Spicy Cabbage and Potato Soup

It’s that time of year… You know, when everyone you know has some sort of ailment or another.  Well, I got hit with a bug and I knew just what I needed.  Fortunately a friend has some surplus garden bounty that she brought over and I made an incredible, satisfying, spicy, soup.  It’s the kind of soup that helps you breathe better.  You really don’t need to measure much here – just taste and adjust until you’re happy with it. Excuse the quality of some of the pictures, and keep in mind that I was not feeling well.

Here’s what I did.

• Two heads green cabbage, cleaned and chopped
• A bunch of red potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into 1/2 in. cubes
• 6 small white onions, diced
• 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
• 5 garlic cloves, chopped
• 5 serranos, chopped – I left the seeds in as I wanted the heat
• 16 cups seasoned water, or vegetable broth
• salt, pepper
• vegetable oil

Prep all the veggies, and keep them seperated.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees – line a baking sheet with foil, add the potatoes, a big pinch of salt and cook for 45 minutes or until browned.

Preheat a large stove top pot, add a big glub of vegetable, add the cabbage and stir fry – you can start this by covering the pot with a lid and letting it start to wilt to make the stir fry easier.

Preheat another pot, again, add oil and add the onions, cook – stirring occasionally until they start to caramelize.  I really like them caramelized, but if that’s not your thing, you could just cook until translucent.

When the onions are done to your liking, add the garlic, ginger and serrano chiles – Allow them to cook until the garlic smells so wonderful that you can’t stand it.

At this point, add your liquid, lower and allow to simmer.

When your cabbage is sufficiently wilted, add that to the pot of soup and when the potatoes are browned to your liking, remove from oven and add them as well. Add a big pinch of salt, to taste and allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes – the longer the better.  Taste and adjust your salt and add pepper if desired.

Serve, eat and feel better!