Easy Cabbage Recipes

Many people are introduced to cabbage soup as part of a weight loss program, and endless variations of the "cabbage soup diet" have been circulating for decades. In most of them, the basic instruction is to eat as much cabbage soup as wanted, but little or nothing else for a week or more. While medical experts agree that this type of diet is far too limited to be healthful, the low-cal version of cabbage soup is an excellent "go-to" choice for dieters. It's a tasty and filling addition to a balanced menu and a nutritious snack that can tide you over between meals without piling on unwanted calories.

Basic Low-Calorie Cabbage Soup
- 3 cups liquid - can be beef, chicken, or vegetable broth or tomato soup
- 2 to 3 cups cabbage, chopped or coarsely shredded
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 or 2 carrots, coarsely shredded
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 can of french-style green beans, drained
- 1 can of yellow wax beans, drained
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste

Saute onion, garlic, and carrot together in a deep pot coated with non-stick spray. When they have softened, add the remaining ingredients, stir well, and cook until the cabbage is tender.

variations:add shredded sweet potatoes or zucchini; use three cups of water with three bullion cubes in place of broth or tomato juice; substitute chopped green onions in place of the 1/2 onion; add a teaspoon of basil.

This version of cabbage soup picks up some additional calories from the meat, but it's still a healthy dish.

- 1-1/2 pounds of ground beef or loose sweet sausage
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 2 quarts beef broth, or 2 quarts water and four boullion cubes
- 2 medium carrots, shredded
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 head cabbage, cored and cut into wedges

Crumble the sausage or ground beef in a large pot and cook to brown lightly. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth or water and bullion cubes. Stir well to combine, then add carrots, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat, then add add garlic and cabbage. Continue to simmer until cabbage is tender, about 30 more minutes.

Cabbage is a favorite with dieters because it delivers plenty of fiber and lots of nutrients in a low-fat, extremely low-cal package: an entire head of cabbage weighs in at just 200 calories, and adds Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K along with several essential minerals including iron and calcium.

A serving of cabbage can help you feel full for a long time, which makes it an excellent addition to any diet-conscious menu.

Here's fast and super-simple cabbage recipes that can make an ordinary dinner into a nutritious and filling feast.

Simple Cabbage Wedges - A Super Side Dish

- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil (or one tablespoonn of each)
- 1/2 head green cabbage, quartered through the core
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- salt and pepper

Melt butter and/or oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cabbage wedges and cook until lightly browned, turning to make sure wedges cook evenly; count on about 4 to 5 minutes per side. When wedges are evenly browned, add vinegar, sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the cabbage is tender - about 15 minutes, but test with fork for doneness. Serve hot, with salt and pepper to taste.

Here's a cabbage dish that's a perfect quick-to-make meatless meal.

Cheesy Cabbage And Bows

- 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
- 1 medium head cabbage, cored and sliced thin
- 1 (16 ounce) package bow-tie noodles
- 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- salt and pepper to taste

Melt half the butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add cabbage and onions. Cover and cook until tender and browned, stirring frequently.

At the same time, cook the bow-tie noodles according to package directions and drain. When both cabbage and noodles are cooked, stir them together along with the cottage cheese and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.