Keto Cabbage Soup

This keto cabbage soup is a hearty meal full of stewed beef and vegetables that will keep you warm and satisfied! And with only 2 net carbs, this is a soup you can't pass up.

❤️ Why You'll Love It

I love soups and eat as much as I can because they are so rich and flavorful. I like that I can throw different combinations of vegetables and beef or chicken and whip up a satisfying soup. Soup is even more necessary and satisfying when the weather is cold, as it helps warm you up from the inside.

This keto cabbage soup is not only deliciously satisfying but also provides various health benefits due to the vitamins and minerals in the vegetables. It can also help with weight loss and portion control because it fills you up quickly, curbing overeating.

💭 What is Keto Cabbage Soup?

Keto cabbage soup is an easy recipe with flavorful ingredients like cabbage, beef chunks, tomato, and aromatic herbs and spices. In this recipe, I add an African twist to these classic flavors by adding cayenne pepper and ground crayfish!

Have you ever had a cabbage roll? They're usually ground beef sauteed with white rice, onions, and garlic, wrapped in a cabbage leaf, then slowly braised in tomato sauce. This recipe is basically like an unstuffed cabbage roll soup!

You have all the rich, hearty flavor without fussing over wrapping up little rolls. Plus, I substitute beef stew meat for bigger, more filling pieces.

This keto soup is way easier than it looks, tastes excellent, and will give you plenty of leftovers! It's ideal for a busy weeknight and is the perfect meal for those cold winter nights.

🥘 Equipment Used

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Instant pot - Feel free to use any regular pressure cooker. You can use a Crock Pot or slow cooker, but it will take much longer (around 5-6 hours).

🧾 Ingredients Used

• Stew beef chunks: These are beef chunks that are usually cut into cubes and become soft and tender when cooked. Look for stew meat, or you can cut any tender beef into smaller pieces as long as you cut it into chunks and remove the bones.
• Vegetables: Chop up your cabbage, red bell peppers, scallions, and garlic.
• Tomato paste: Instead of fresh tomatoes, the tomato paste lends a more robust, concentrated flavor.
• Spices: I use cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, thyme, salt, and ground crayfish. Ground crayfish is popularly used to spice up soups and stews in West Africa, giving this an earthy, traditional flavor. You can leave it out or substitute it with coconut aminos or soy sauce for a delicious, umami flavor. 
• Olive oil is used to brown the beef. Browning is a necessary step because it gives the beef an incredible depth of flavor.
• Beef broth: You will need stock, broth, water, or a combination of both. I used 2 cups of stock and 2 cups of water. You can use more or less of either, but you might have to adjust the salt and spices for the right blend of flavors you desire.

🔪 How To Make Keto Cabbage Soup

1. Pour in the olive oil, then add the beef. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper and stir the meat until it is browned. If you have a smaller Instant Pot, you should do this in batches.
2. Brown the meat on high heat for a few minutes till it is browned. Add the scallion and garlic and stir till softened.
3. Add the red bell pepper, tomato paste, and spices. Pour in the meat stock and water and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
4. Press the manual mode on the Instant Pot and set it to 45 minutes. It will take 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. Make sure the vent is set to sealing.
5. After the instant pot counts down 45 minutes, do a quick release. Use a wooden spoon to move the vent at the top from the sealing to the venting position. Be careful so you don't get burned! I like to keep a respectful distance when doing this.
6. Open the Instant Pot and switch to sauté mode. If you want, add more salt and spices until you are satisfied. Add the cabbage and simmer for 5-10 minutes. The Instant Pot automatically switches to the warming function but still has enough heat to soften the cabbage. If you want it crunchier, leave it for only 5 minutes.

🥫 Storing And Reheating

This recipe makes a lot of soup! Unless you have a large family, you likely want to store your leftovers in meal prep containers.

If you're eating it at home, you can pour your leftovers into airtight containers like mason jars. However, choose a container that can be easily microwaved if you'd like to reheat it at work or away from home.

Plan to eat your keto cabbage soup leftovers within approximately five days.

💭 Tips And Variations

• Use your favorite oil to sear - Instead of olive oil, feel free to sear the beef in coconut oil, avocado oil, or your favorite cooking oil.
• Be flexible with your broth options - You have plenty of options for this keto cabbage soup recipe! You can use bone broth, beef stock, diluted beef bouillon cubes, beef bouillon paste, chicken broth, or even vegetable stock. Feel free to use half stock and half water, too.
• Use your favorite cabbage variety - This low carb cabbage soup is excellent with green cabbage, savoy cabbage, or even red cabbage. Just know that the color will change slightly with red cabbage, but it will still taste great! Aim for one medium-sized head of cabbage. If you can only find large ones, cut one in half. If you can only find small ones, grab two!
• Add more veggies - You can add more veggies like carrots, celery, and diced tomatoes.
• Ground crayfish substitution - This African ingredient has a satisfying umami flavor. Try replacing it with soy sauce, coconut aminos, or even a bit of bouillon for that extra flavor.
• Substitute your favorite protein - I love the taste of slow-cooked beef because it reminds me of pot roast. This recipe is also great with ground beef or ground turkey. You can even use diced chicken and substitute chicken stock for a lighter version of this hearty soup recipe!

🍽️ What Can I Eat With Keto Cabbage Soup?

Although this delicious cabbage soup is filling enough to be a low carb meal on its own, you may enjoy these serving options:

• Serve over riced cauliflower.
• Top with shredded parmesan cheese.
• Stir in a scoop of sour cream.
• Add some shirataki noodles.

👩‍🍳 Frequently Asked Questions

📚 Related Recipes

Need more keto soups? Next time, try these!

Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup

Keto Mushroom Soup

Oxtail Soup

Keto Buffalo Chicken Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

Tofu Soup

Here are some more recipes you can make with your instant pot!

Instant Pot Pork Chops

Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup

Goat Curry

Keto Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

Pumpkin Chicken Curry

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

📖 Recipe