A Splash Of This Pantry Staple Takes Cabbage Soup To New Heights

Cabbage soup is an easy and affordable way to load up on your veggie intake. The next time you're whipping up a serving, try adding a splash of soy sauce and watch it do savory, umami-rich wonders. Soy sauce effortlessly creates restaurant-worthy soup in seconds, adding hints of complexity — and not just a one-layered saltiness that can be boring. No matter how you make your cabbage soup, soy sauce tastes like it belongs there and will add layers of rich, savory depth that can save the day if you're finding the meal too plain and bland. It will be like you made an extra effort to take a simple cabbage soup to robust, new heights, even if you're just working with this one condiment. 

For every half a head of cabbage, you can introduce two tablespoons of soy sauce, give or take, making sure to taste the soup first if you're planning on adding more. If you're in doubt, begin small, as soy sauce can be salty. You can build up the flavor along the way if you feel like the soup lacks a punch, which is a wiser move compared to having a sodium-packed base as your starting point. While you can fix overly salty food, it can be an inconvenience to those who are watching out for their sodium intake. The best part about adding soy sauce to cabbage soup is that it's a flexible pairing, so you can play around with other ingredients to make it even more exciting. 

There are plenty of cabbage soup interpretations out there, but if an Asian-inspired twist is what's making your mouth water (you're already adding soy sauce, after all), you can also toss in some noodles for a more filling meal. Of course, other aromatics and produce can add another layer of flavor and texture, so consider onions, garlic, carrots, and the like. Soy sauce especially shines when there's meat, so you can either work with chicken or beef broth, too, or add the actual proteins themselves into the soup. If you're going for broth, it might be a good idea to use a low-sodium option since you're adding soy sauce to the mix, too.

You can even enlist the help of other condiment staples, like fish sauce, for another boost of umami goodness. Worcestershire sauce, a condiment everyone seems to love, can add a pleasant tangy note to the soup. Sesame oil's nuttiness also goes well with the umami richness of soy sauce, but since its flavor can be quite potent, start with a small serving, adding more as you taste and go.

You can enjoy your cabbage soup enriched with a touch of soy sauce on its own or as a hearty complement to other entrees. For the ultimate comfort meal, grilled cheese can add its own savory character, while grilled fish makes for a nice, light dinner. Serving a steaming bowl of rice on the side can add more substance and make the overall meal filling enough without stealing the spotlight from the delicious soup.