Cabbage Soup Sweet and Sour ala Nita Recipe

Step 1

Heat butter over low heat in a large pot. Add onions and peppers and stir, cooking over medium-low heat until onions are translucent. Add minced garlic (optional) and cook while stirring for about one minute -- DON'T BROWN THE GARLIC! It will get bitter!

Step 2

Stir in brown sugar. Add cabbage and continue to stir fry for 4 to 7 minutes to "sweat" the cabbage. Nita's Note: Sweating tenderizes cabbage and releases the flavor, otherwise it would take a long time to cook or tenderize it by boiling!

Step 3

Add tomatoes, vinegar and chicken broth/stock and bring to a slow boil. Season with black pepper, to taste. Cook soup about 20 minutes, boiling gently, uncovered to combine flavors. Cabbage should be tender. DON'T OVERCOOK!

Step 4

Add chicken broth or water if a thinner soups is desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, as needed. Serve hot with about a tablespoon of sour cream and a sprinkling of chives on top of each bowl if desired.

Note: May be halved for 2 or 3 people. Also can just cook cabbage and onions etc. as a side dish WITHOUT the chicken stock!

Nita Holleman, 2003