French Onion Soup Gets A Major Flavor Boost When You Add This Caramelized Veggie To The Pot

Caramelized onions, chewy bread, and gooey cheese are all hallmarks of a delicious bowl of French onion soup. The soup is so delicious and comforting that it easily functions as a full meal all on its own, but that doesn't mean you can't give it an extra boost of flavor with another ingredient. For us, that means caramelizing cabbage before adding it to the soup for a truly elevated flavor.

French onion cabbage soup isn't actually groundbreaking, even though you might never have heard of it before. Cabbage cooks down and caramelizes similarly to onions, developing a deep, almost sweet flavor that will complement the onions in the soup. The cruciferous veggie is also surprisingly nutritious, with lots of fiber and vitamins, which is ideal if you plan to serve the soup as a full meal. In addition to the flavor and nutrients, adding it to French onion soup is an easy way to get rid of a head of cabbage in the fridge and prevent potential food waste. This version of French onion soup will also taste richer and go further if you need to feed a crowd.

There are plenty of recipes for French onion cabbage soup online, but it really doesn't have to be much more complicated than adding cabbage to our easy French onion soup recipe (or even our slow cooker French onion soup for a truly low-effort meal). However, there are a few important steps to consider. First, be sure to cut the cabbage into thin strips so it cooks evenly and softens by the time the soup is done. An even more crucial step is to cook the cabbage and onions in batches because cabbage has a higher water content than onions, and the extra moisture needs to be cooked out to reach peak caramelization. Add half of the cabbage with the onions, and once it's caramelized, add the other half to save time. Once you've added your broth to the pot, let it simmer so the cabbage becomes tender like the onions.

As usual, we have some other ingredient suggestions that will pair deliciously with the cabbage and onions in this upgraded soup. Fresh herbs are a must, and a combination of thyme, parsley, and bay leaves is the way to go. Gruyere is the traditional cheese to melt on top, but you can also use Swiss, Comté, or even mozzarella — all of which will melt well and taste great. And one more ingredient to upgrade your French onion soup (which also pairs well with cabbage) is smoked sausage, for a meaty, hearty flavor.