Cabbage soup facts for kids
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| Type | Soup |
|---|---|
| Serving temperature | hot |
| Main ingredients | Stock (fish, mushroom, or pork fat), vegetables (sauerkraut/white cabbage) |
| Variations | Shchi |
Cabbage soup is a yummy and warm soup made mostly from different kinds of cabbage or sauerkraut. It's a popular vegetable soup that people enjoy all over the world. You can make it in many ways! Some recipes use mushrooms for a vegetarian version. Others might use fish stock. A traditional way to make it is with pork stock, which gives it a rich flavor.
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Cabbage Soup Around the World
Cabbage soup is super popular in many countries. You'll find it often in Russia, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Each country has its own special name for it!
Names for Cabbage Soup
- In Polish, it's called kapuśniak or kwaśnica.
- In Slovak, it's known as kapustnica.
- In Ukrainian, it's капусняк (kapusniak).
You can also find delicious cabbage soup in other places:
- Czech Republic: zelňačka or zelná polévka
- Germany: Kohlsuppe or Krautsuppe
- France: soupe aux choux
- Finland: kaalikeitto
- Sweden: kålsoppa
Swedish Cabbage Soup
In Sweden, cabbage soup is usually made with white cabbage. The cabbage is often browned first, which gives it a deeper flavor. Then it's boiled and seasoned with lots of allspice. Sometimes, people even add boiled meatballs to their soup!
Russian Shchi
A famous type of cabbage soup from Russia is called shchi (Russian: щи). It's considered a national dish there! While most shchi is made with cabbage, some versions use other green plants. These can include dock, spinach, or even nettle. If it's made with sauerkraut, it's called "sour shchi." If it uses fresh cabbage, it's "fresh cabbage shchi."
Latvian Sauerkraut Soup
In most of Latvia, sauerkraut soup (Latvian: skābu kāpostu zupa) is a favorite. It's made with sauerkraut, potatoes, carrots, and groats. However, in the Latgale region of Latvia, they keep it simple. Their version often uses only sauerkraut and bacon.
How to Make Traditional Kapuśniak
Kapuśniak is a traditional Polish cabbage soup. Here's how it's often made:
Cooking the Ingredients
First, you take sauerkraut that has been drained and chopped. You cook it in water with chopped pork and pieces of kielbasa. A little bit of salt is added. You cook this until the meat is almost soft. Instead of meat, some people use ready-made broth.
Next, you add diced potatoes and carrots. These are boiled until they are fully cooked and tender. You can also add tomato paste and other spices for more flavor.
Serving Your Soup
In some areas, people add flour and butter to the soup. This makes it a bit thicker and richer. A lighter version of kapuśniak can be made with root vegetables and mushrooms instead of meat.
Kapuśniak is always served hot. In some regions, people like to add a dollop of sour cream on top. They might also sprinkle it with fresh, chopped parsley and dill for extra taste and color.
Images for kids
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Polish kapuśniak
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Slovak kapustnica
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Ukrainian kapusnyak
