Sausage and cabbage soup is a very economical soup that can be cooked in the slow cooker or on top of the stove. It is a very tasty soup and one that we really like in the winter when the colds and flues are going around. The cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, and amino acids.  Cabbage is a good food to include in your diet if you are trying to lose weight because it is low in calories.

When you buy cabbage, look for heads of cabbage that feel heavy and have leaves tightly packed. The cabbage will store in your refrigerator crisper for a couple of weeks. Do not wash cabbage before you store it in the crisper. The extra moisture allows the cabbage to deteriorate faster.  You do need to wash the cabbage before you cook with it.

Ingredients

1 to 1 1/2 pounds Italian, Hot Italian, or Polish sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
5 carrots, peeled and diced into small bite-size pieces
7 potatoes, peeled and diced into small bite-size pieces
1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 medium cabbage, cut into wedges
3  (14 oz) cans chicken stock
2 cups water
1 tsp caraway seed
Salt to taste, if needed
oil (if needed)

Preparation

Add chicken stock and water to slow cooker or stockpot.
Cut the sausage into cut ½- inch bite-size pieces and place in skillet. Add a small amount of oil to the skillet, if needed, while it is frying. Fry until brown and add to the slow cooker. If you are cooking the soup on top of the stove add the sausage to a 6-quart stockpot.

Add the vegetable to the slow cooker like a Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker or stockpot in the order listed. Then add the rest of the ingredients.

Turn the slow cooker to high until it is bubbling. Turn the soup down to low for 6-8 hours or until the vegetables are done.

On the stovetop, cover and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer for 4-5 hours or until the vegetables are done.

Tip
I have omitted the browning of the sausage when I was in a hurry. I prefer the taste of the sausage browned. I have also cooked the sausage on medium heat on the barbecue until browned and then cut it into pieces.

Wash the head of cabbage under running water. Cut the head of cabbage in half and remove the solid white core and discard the core. If I am feeding extra that night, I add more cabbage, more potatoes, and more liquid.

Enjoy!