Cheesy Cabbage and White Bean Soup
Photo by Cara Howe
I shared the step-by-step process for this soup on Instagram a while back—it’s one of my absolute favorites from Start Simple, a quick weeknight dinner that everyone who makes it immediately knows will go into the regular rotation. The crispy croutons or bread crumbs are optional, but I do think a crunchy garnish is quite welcome here. For a gluten-free alternative, try toasted sliced almonds.
Cheesy Cabbage and White Bean Soup
This fantastic soup is inspired by a Martha Rose Shulman recipe, from her New York Times “Recipes for Health” column, where cabbage is cooked in a combination of broth and milk. My adaptation tastes sophisticated even without any dairy (thanks to cabbage, that chameleon, showing off a whole new side of itself when cooked), but the Gruyère makes the soup absolutely elegant. I’ve added white beans for heft and creaminess. Taste carefully for seasoning toward the end—I find that after adding the cheese I need to add a bit more salt to bring the flavors into balance.
Serves 4 to 6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, or 2 leeks, white parts only, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ medium head green or Savoy cabbage, shredded (about 5 cups)
½ teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
Two 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, including the liquid, or 4 cups cooked white beans with a few ladlesful of their broth
5 cups vegetable broth, or 1 tablespoon bouillon base dissolved in 5 cups water
1 cup shredded Gruyére or Parmesan cheese, or 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar
Freshly ground black pepper
Fried breadcrumbs or croutons, for serving
Warm the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat, then stir in the onions and garlic, followed by the cabbage and salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, until just starting to soften, then add the beans and broth. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the broth is flavorful. Remove from the heat and add the cheese a handful at a time, stirring until it melts into the broth. Taste and season with additional salt, as needed (depending on the saltiness of your vegetable stock or bouillon, it may need quite a bit of salt, as the beans really soak it up), and a few grinds of pepper. Serve hot, topped with breadcrumbs or croutons, if desired.