Aunt Josie’s Cabbage Soup

This might be one of my favorite soups. So much flavor and easy to make, too.  It warms you up on even the coldest days. The soup is a meal all on its own, or it can be served with crusty bread. Loaded with an assortment of veggies, the flavor is enhanced by the addition of smoked sausage. It would be a nice soup to make for New Year’s Day.

The recipe came to me through my Mother, who got it from my Aunt Josie. While I normally make it in a soup pot, it can be make in a crock pot- after the onions and sausage have been browned a little. Ready in no time, it is a great solution when you want homemade soup but don’t have a lot of time.

Aunt Josie’s Cabbage Soup

1 T. oil
1 c. chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1½ lbs. Cooked smoked sausage, sliced or diced
3 carrots, peeled and cubed
8 cups coarsely chopped cabbage, a small head
1 sweet pepper, seeded and chopped
1 c. tomato sauce
2 qts. Water
1-t. salt or paste-type soup base
pepper to taste
3 medium potatoes, cubed
2 T. oil
1/3 c. flour
1 t. paprika

Sauté onion in oil until browned. Add garlic and sausage and cook until sausage is browned. Add vegetables, sauce water and seasonings and cook, covered 15 minutes. Add potatoes and cook, covered, 15 minutes more. In bowl combine oil, flour and paprika and stir until smooth. Ladle some hot soup into flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Repeat a few more times, until flour forms a paste. Pour this mixture into soup and simmer 2 minutes, until thickened. Serves 10-12.

This is dedicated to my Aunt Josie.