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Piggy Soup Recipe
Ever find yourself craving Polish cabbage rolls but not the time or patience to roll them? That’s where the Piggy Soup Recipe comes to the rescue. This rich, comforting bowl of goodness takes everything you love about stuffed cabbage rolls-beef, cabbage, tomatoes, rice-and turns it into a soul-warming soup.
Also known as Polish Cabbage Roll Soup, this dish is affectionately nicknamed “Piggy Soup” for its porky, cozy heartiness and its clever shortcut. Instead of rolling each leaf, you just simmer everything together for that same nostalgic flavor.
Whether you’re cooking on a busy weeknight or looking for a satisfying winter warmer, this soup delivers big flavor with less hassle. It’s one pot, one hour, all comfort.
Why You’ll Love Piggy Soup
First, it’s the perfect answer to a lazy cabbage roll craving. No rolling. No baking. Just slice, stir, simmer, and spoon into a bowl of pure happiness.
Second, it’s insanely satisfying. The buttery cabbage melts into tender ground beef and tomatoes, while rice soaks up all that savory broth. A touch of cayenne adds gentle warmth. Pure Polish comfort in a bowl.
And finally-it’s grandma-approved. This recipe draws inspiration from traditional Polish kitchens like Grandma Sophie’s, where hearty, simple ingredients always came together in magical ways. It’s everything good about home-cooked food-without the rolling pins.
Ingredients Required for Piggy Soup Recipe
Before you start, make sure you have all the following ingredients listed below for this Piggy Soup Recipe
For the Soup
- 1 head green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1 lb ground beef
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups beef broth (plus extra as needed)
- 1 jar (about 24 oz) crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup uncooked Basmati or long-grain rice
- 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley, chopped (divided)
For Garlic Fix (if forgotten)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
Kitchen Equipment Needed
- Large soup pot or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Sharp knife & cutting board
- Measuring cups
- Ladle
- Garlic press or grater (optional)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Recipe for Piggy Soup
Just follow these easy steps to make your own Piggy Soup at home
1: Prep the Cabbage
Slice the cabbage in half, remove the core, and chop it into 1–1.5 inch strips. Then cut those into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
2: Sauté Onion & Beef
In a large pot, melt a stick of butter over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and salt, stirring for 4–5 minutes until translucent. Add ground beef and cook 5–6 minutes, breaking it up into small crumbles.
3: Add Seasonings
Stir in freshly ground black pepper, cayenne, and bay leaf. Stir just for fun-it’s part of the Polish grandma ritual.
4: Pour in Broth & Boil
Add 2 cups of beef broth and bring to a rolling boil. Don’t skim the fat-it’s flavor!
5: Add the Cabbage
Stir in your chopped cabbage. Let it cook for 10–15 minutes uncovered on medium heat before adding any acidic tomatoes to keep cabbage tender.
6: Add Tomatoes & Water
Pour in your crushed tomatoes. Rinse the tomato jar or measuring cup with 1½ cups of water and add that in too. Stir well. Let it simmer gently for about 50 minutes, uncovered.
7: Add Rice & Half the Parsley
Add your uncooked rice and half the chopped parsley. Simmer for 20 more minutes until the rice is fully tender or as soft as you like it. Add more broth or water if it thickens too much.
8: Final Touches
Taste and adjust seasoning-salt, pepper, a bit more cayenne if you like a kick. Stir in the rest of the parsley and turn off the heat.
9: Forgot Garlic? Fix It!
Melt butter in a small pan, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds, then pour in beef broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir this garlicky magic into the soup-your grandmother will forgive you.
10: Serve It Up
Ladle the soup into bowls, top with extra parsley, and enjoy your no-roll cabbage roll masterpiece!
How to Store Piggy Soup Properly?
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. To reheat, warm on the stove over low heat with a splash of water or broth to loosen. It tastes even better the next day.
What to Pair and Serve with Piggy Soup
1. Crusty Bread for Dunking
Trust us-this soup begs for bread. We’ve served it with warm, crusty sourdough and even Fatata with caraway seeds. The buttery broth clings to each bite, and the bread soaks up that tomato-beef goodness like a sponge.
2. Scoop It Over Mashed Potatoes
One night, we had leftover mashed potatoes and decided to ladle Piggy Soup right over them-game changer. The creamy mash mixed with the tangy tomato base is pure comfort on a spoon.
3. Top with a Dollop of Sour Cream
Just like with traditional cabbage rolls, a cold spoonful of sour cream on top gives the soup a creamy, tangy twist that balances the spice beautifully. We sometimes swirl it in until the whole bowl turns velvety.
4. Serve with Pierogi on the Side
If you’ve got a few frozen pierogi in the freezer-pan-fry them! The combo of cheesy or potato-filled dumplings with this soup is so hearty, it feels like a Polish family feast (minus all the dishes).
5. Pair with Pickles
This might sound odd, but try it. A crunchy dill or garlic pickle on the side cuts through the richness of the soup. It’s that briny snap against the warm, meaty spoonful that just works. Trust us-we were skeptical too, but now we always do it.
6. Add a Soft-Boiled Egg on Top
Okay, this one’s a little outside the box, but we tried it once and never looked back. A jammy egg on top adds richness and a little elegance-break it open and let that yolk swirl into the broth. Heavenly.
7. Make It a Rice Bowl
One time, we had extra cooked rice and less broth left in the pot, so we just spooned the soup over the rice in a bowl and ate it with a fork. It became more of a stew, and it was honestly so satisfying.
8. Grate a Little Cheese on Top
Try a sprinkle of sharp white cheddar or smoked gouda-seriously. We started doing this in winter when we wanted extra richness. It melts into the hot soup and gives it a silky, slightly nutty kick.
9. Add Crumbled Bacon for a Smoky Twist
This happened by accident-bacon from breakfast, leftover soup from dinner. We crumbled it in, and suddenly Piggy Soup had this smoky depth like it had been simmering all day in a campfire pot. Highly recommend.
10. Serve with a Cold Beer or Mulled Cider
Depending on the season, we love sipping something on the side. A crisp lager or pilsner brings out the peppery warmth of the soup. In fall or winter, hot mulled apple cider complements the sweet cabbage undertones beautifully.
My Personal Experience With this Recipe and Some Tips
I made this Piggy Soup on a cold day, and wow-it felt like a warm hug in a bowl! The cabbage melted so soft, and the butter made it rich and yummy. My family went back for seconds. Even my picky kid said, “Can we have this again tomorrow?”
Tips for Piggy Soup Recipe
1. Cut cabbage small – Make pieces tiny so they fit on your spoon.
2. Don’t skip the butter – It makes the soup rich and tasty.
3. Cook cabbage before tomatoes – This keeps it soft, not chewy.
4. Use any rice – Long grain, Basmati, or even leftover rice works!
5. Add garlic early – For more flavor, stir it in before broth.
6. Let it sit – It tastes even better the next day!
FAQs on Piggy Soup Recipe
Here are some common questions I’ve got you covered about the Piggy Soup Recipe.
1. What ingredients go in cabbage soup?
For Piggy Soup (aka lazy cabbage roll soup), we use green cabbage, ground beef, onion, butter, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, rice, fresh parsley, and spices like black pepper, cayenne, and bay leaf. Sometimes we toss in garlic, too-don’t forget that like we did once!
2. How do you make a soup recipe from scratch?
Honestly? Start with butter or oil, sauté onions or aromatics, then add your protein (like beef), broth, and veggies. For Piggy Soup, we brown the beef with onion and spices, add cabbage, then simmer everything with tomatoes and rice. It’s all in one pot and super easy!
3. Is beef cabbage soup healthy?
Totally! This soup has loads of cabbage (fiber), lean beef (protein), tomato (vitamins), and rice (energy). Plus, it’s homemade, so no weird additives. You control the salt and butter, so it can be as hearty or light as you want. We make it often and feel great after.
4. How do you make Mtori soup?
Oh, Mtori is actually different! It’s a Tanzanian banana-beef soup. We’ve tried it before-it uses green bananas instead of rice, and it’s thick, smooth, and lightly spiced. Piggy Soup is more like a Polish-style cabbage roll in soup form, so totally different flavor profiles but both super cozy!
5. Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes, and we’ve done it! The soup is still delicious and a bit lighter. Just be sure to season the turkey well and maybe add an extra splash of olive oil or butter since turkey is leaner than beef.
6. What if I forget the garlic?
Been there! Just do a quick garlic butter fix: sauté minced garlic in a bit of butter, add a splash of broth, simmer for a minute, then stir it into your soup. It works like magic-even if Grandma Sophie might raise an eyebrow!
7. Can I freeze Piggy Soup?
Absolutely! We’ve frozen it in batches and it reheats great. Just let it cool fully, pop it in freezer containers, and reheat on the stove with a little broth or water. The rice will thicken, but it still tastes amazing.
8. What kind of rice works best?
We like Basmati for its fragrance and fluff, but any long-grain rice works. We’ve even used jasmine rice and plain white rice-just watch the cooking time. Pre-cooked rice works too, but stir it in at the end so it doesn’t get mushy.
9. Can I make this vegetarian?
Totally doable! We’ve swapped out the beef for lentils and used veggie broth. Add a little smoked paprika to mimic the meaty flavor. It turns out hearty, comforting, and just as satisfying.
10. Why is it called Piggy Soup?
We call it Piggy Soup as a fun nickname-it’s basically a shortcut version of Polish stuffed cabbage rolls (which often have pork or beef). No pigs needed, though-you can use any ground meat. It’s just our cozy way of saying “cabbage roll soup without the hassle!”
This Piggy Soup Recipe is proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated. With every spoonful, you get the deep flavors of cabbage rolls-without the roll. It’s hearty, nostalgic, and just a little rebellious.
Ready to make your kitchen smell like a Polish grandma’s hug? Grab your ingredients and let’s make Piggy Soup tonight!
I’d love to hear your thoughts-leave a comment on the blog and let me know How it came out! Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube for more delicious updates. Your support truly means everything to me.
