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Red cabbage and apple soup

In Hungary we eat lots of red cabbage during the winter, particularly braised with roast duck, goose and game. Red cabbage is always cooked with caraway seeds and some vinegar - even in soups. This red cabbage and apple soup is a family favourite - we usually eat it half-creamed but for the children I prefer to process it to a smooth, creamy consistency. The soup is dairy free, you only add the horseradish cream when served (which is optional). It’s also super healthy and rather filling too, ideal for dieters and the health-conscious!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting Time 4 hours
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 people
Cuisine: Mid&East European
Calories: 1234
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium red cabbage approx. 500g
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 stalks of celery
  • ½ Tbsp caraway seeds
  • 1 Tbsp tomato purée
  • 1 cooking apple
  • 2 Tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp cane sugar optional
  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • For Horseradish cream optional:
  • 3 Tbsp sour cream or crème fraîche, Greek youghurt
  • 1 Tbsp grated horseradish fresh or from a jar
  • To garnish:
  • Chopped chives dill or parsley to garnish (optional)

Method
 

  1. Finely chop the onion and celery.
  2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, celery and caraway seed and a pinch of salt. Gently sauté for about 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile core and finely shred the cabbage, then peel and finely chop the apple.
  4. When the onion and celery are soft, stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1 minute, then the cabbage and apple. Stir in the vinegar and cover the pan with a lid. Gently simmer for 15 minutes over a low heat, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add the sugar and the stock and bring to the boil. Put the lid on and simmer for 30 minutes.
  6. Using a hand-held blender, whizz the soup until smooth. Season with black pepper and salt if needed.
  7. Mix together the sour cream and horseradish in a small bowl.
  8. Serve the soup with dollops of the horseradish cream and sprinkle with some fresh herbs, if you like.