Charred Cabbage and Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

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kathy F

Because I used salted chicken broth, I cut the soy sauce in half. The recipe was still quite flavorful. I liked the earthy flavor of the charred cabbage. I used Gruyère cheese as a topping because it was what I had. It complemented the flavors nicely. I added a little cooked Italian sausage at the bottom of each bowl too. (Actually, the recipe would have been fine on its own.) I layered the two leftover servings in bowls and saved some of the crispy cabbage to top at serving time.

Miti

I loved this! I am a first time reviewer, but long time follower of NYTCooking and felt the urge to comment.As others have noted I thought I could add a bit more flavour by sautéing the onion, garlic, carrots, etc., which I believe it did. After I did this and added the lentils, I added about half a cup of white wine and let that reduce before adding in the stock. I also found adding about a tablespoon of Miso amped up the umami flavour to the max!

Golem

I haven't made this yet but it would seem that the onion and carrots should be sautéed first or roasted with the cabbage to get more char (Maillard effect).

MRBR

Charred cabbage! First time roasting cabbage like this and it will not be the last. It really makes the soup and it's delicious on its own. I am looking at cabbage in a whole new way. The soup is very good. I took some liberties with ingredient proportions but a recipe like this allows for variation as Ali Slagle points out. Delicious!

ttbert

First time reviewer and wanted to write one since this is a new recipe and it was just wonderful. My husband and I thought it was one of the best NYT recipes we have ever made (or any recipe) especially since it was fairly easy and ingredients that last a long time in fridge or pantry staples. Hint of French onion soup but with lots more depth and flavors. It was spicy but not too much. Next time I’ll do less pepper kids and add more to my bowl. Agree sausage would be good but not necessary.

Thia

Boy is this delicious. Used puy lentils because I had a cup. Sautéed aromatics first. Threw some caraway seeds on the cabbage while roasting and might add apple next time. Otherwise, as written. Why haven’t I been roasting cabbage during my one wild and precious life??

Jodyp

Loved this! I had red lentils on hand, so used those. I caramelized the onions with the thyme which gave it great flavor.

Beth

Delicious! I agree with the others who suggest chopping the cabbage after charring to make it spoon size and those who suggest sautéing the onions and carrots before adding water or stock. I added some of the cabbage to the soup while it simmered to deepen the flavor and it made a very flavorful broth. I’m looking forward to the leftovers!

Judy R

Am I the only one who found this to be very spicy? I would definitely reduce the amount of red pepper flakes the next time around. Otherwise, it is a delicious soup.

Bella

I think you're wanting to roast them like steaks or the cabbage will burn and/or dry out.

JM

If one doesn't have Parmesan on hand, would a dollop of white miso provide the desired umami?

Tracy

I used a red cabbage from my garden, it turned out delicious!

Linda M

Lentil soup recipe is nearly the same as I've made for many decades but really look forward to adding an new dimension with the charred cabbage. Cabbage is an underused and under appreciated veggie and always looking for ideas.

marianna

Can I use red cabbage?

Eric

I believe so. When we did it we pulled the cabbage apart. More surface area for olive oil and charring.

Esperanza

Right now a pot of this soup is simmering on the stove. After removing the charred cabbage from the oven, I used that pan to roast the carrots, chopped onions and garlic before adding them along with the cabbage to the lentils and broth seasoned with oregano, bay leaf and a pinch of rosemary. Great robust results!

Sheila C.

We really enjoyed this soup. Delicious earthy, umami flavors. I cooked it as written and this will definitely go into our regular rotation.

Mare

Love this elevated lentil soup with home-grown cabbage. I used all the herbs (bay, thyme sprig, rosemary sprig) and also let some stewed tomatoes fall apart in the soup. No cheese to make it vegan and a drizzle of basil oil took it over the top! Charred more cabbage for dinner #2.

Meredyth

What a delicious soup! I don't usually like cabbage or lentils, but this was delicious. I will make it again using some of the other reviewers' suggestions and double the recipe so I can freeze some. Making fresh cabbage for left-overs was a breeze.

Tai

The Parmesan rind ties all the ingredients together. Would be a pity not to use it. Delicious recipe, made it over and over this winter.

Jennifer R

MMM! I air-fried thick cabbage slices until they were crisp, about 14 minutes at 400 degrees and turned them halfway. A few leaves fell off and I coudn't resist sampling them. Sooo good! I was out of thyme so I used oregano, and it's wonderful. The cabbage really turns a budget dinner into a gourmet meal!

Marianne

This is a pretty ho-hum lentil soup and ho-hum roasted cabbage. I like lentil soup and love roasted cabbage, but in this case both are kind of plain and the sum doesn't make them any better. I added tomato paste to the lentils because I wanted to use some up, as well as celery because all soup of this type needs celery. Used bay leaf as herb. Was good, but not better than the sum of the parts. I sautéed onion etc. first, as per the usual method of making a soup like this.

smilespreder

This was a great Sunday treat. Cooked as presented no modifications. Will cook again.

karen

This is an excellent soup, so flavorful and so simple. I used chicken broth rather than water. I was tempted to sauté the vegetables first as others suggested, but I trusted the author. It is not necessary to take that extra time. Keep it simple and enjoy. I will be making this soup again and again.

We loved this reipe!

I sautéed the onion and added a bit more garlic and added a can of fire roasted tomatoes. It was hearty and delicious !

H

Great recipe! It was delicious and easy. Lentils aren't on my list of usual favorites I just wanted to try something new, glad I did!I did sauté the onions and carrots just out of habit, but otherwise followed the recipe.

MDufort

I wonder if the cabbage could be replaced with either swiss chard or kale that could be oven roasted? Any thoughts?

sarahsw

As other people suggested, I sauteed the onion and carrot before adding the broth.The cabbage took a bit longer than suggested.This was absolutely delicious! Definitely will make again

Sarah K

Like others, I had some issue building flavor. I ended up adding: mushrooms, 1/2 TBS miso paste, and a squeeze of lemon. I also sautéed the vegetables as others suggested. If you do not have a parmesan rind, I would say that making this with just water would be tough. Shrug. I don't know why this didn't work very well for me.

Linda

I made it with charred brussels sprouts.

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Charred Cabbage and Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my cabbage soup taste so bland? ›

Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper. Too little salt means your soup's flavours' will remain hidden. When you know your soup is salty enough, move on to other seasonings like herbs and spices.

Do I have to cook lentils before adding to soup? ›

Do you cook lentils before adding to soup? Nope! Dried lentils cook in 35 minutes in the soup, and there's no need to soak them either!

Why does my stomach hurt after eating cabbage soup? ›

“Additionally, cruciferous vegetables—like cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts—contain raffinose, an indigestible sugar. As it's fermented by bacteria in the gut, gas is produced, which is why you may experience flatulence and discomfort after eating these foods.

What happens to your body when you eat cabbage soup? ›

The cabbage soup diet stimulates the body's metabolism and fat mobilization. This diet limits your calorie intake and causes your body to burn fat for energy. Low sodium, low calories, and high fiber allow you to lose weight faster if you followed a reasonable long-term dietary plan.

What happens if you don't rinse lentils? ›

It'll be fine. The reason you rinse lentils is to remove any small rocks, husks, and rodent droppings that might have gotten in there.

Is it OK to not rinse lentils? ›

Do I Have To Rinse and Sort Before Cooking? It's highly recommended that you rinse and sort lentils before cooking them. Because of their small size, plus how they are grown and harvested, they are particularly prone to having bits of grit and chaff clinging to them.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

Yes, you can overcook lentils; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

How do you fix bland cabbage soup? ›

I always find it difficult to season a soup after it's been made, I usually try to add no sodium type flavors in the very beginning – you might try beginning with a bit of olive oil in the pan and adding just a few red pepper flakes, let cook a minute, then add onions until translucent, during this time, add pepper, ...

How do I fix bland tasting soup? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

Why does my cabbage have no taste? ›

You don't salt your cabbage appropriately

The second most popular people dislike cooking cabbage is how bland it may taste thanks to the excess moisture it releases during cooking. So, if you're making a slaw, experts advise that you salt the cabbage before combining it with other vegetables.

Why is the cabbage soup diet not working? ›

One of the main problems with the Cabbage Soup Diet is that it can only be followed for 1 week, which is not long enough for meaningful weight loss. Your body can only burn so much fat per week.

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