Minced Beef Cabbage Soup - Kaalikeitto

There are two types of cabbage soup, the one with minced beef and the one which was used for loosing weight. I strongly recommend the one with beef but will give the recipe for the diet cabbage soup for completeness’ sake in another post and because every Finn knows it... Here the one that is "edible":

Ingredients:

400 g Minced beef or half-half (pig/beef) not too lean

1 Large onion

2 Garlic cloves

2 Tablespoon oil

800 g White cabbage (mid sized)

3 Medium Carrots

2 Teaspoon Sweet paprika

1.5 Litre Water

2 Beef bouillon cubes

8-10 Piment

2 Large Bay leaves

2 Teaspoon Marjoram

To be served traditionally with lingonberries and of course rye bread. But I suggest also to add a good dose of smetana or cream fraiche.

Instructions:

Peel and cut the onion and garlic. Fry it in a large pot with a bit of oil and add then the beef.

Brown the beef. Cut the cabbage in small slices, peel the carrot and cut into small slices.

Add water, bouillon cubes, paprika, piment, bay leaves and marjoram. Cook about 25-30 minutes till ingredients are all soft.

This soup tastes very good warmed up the next day.

Note: A more modern version uses canned hacked tomatoes and tomato puree and adds black pepper, oregano and soja sauce. Also worth trying.