A Healthy Vegetable Soup made extra tasty……this is my version of the famous Zero Weight Watchers Points cabbage soup. It has 0.4 points (let’s round it down to zero!) but it tastes way, way, way better!
A healthy vegetable soup made extra tasty.
Do you know about the zero Weight Watchers Points cabbage soup? Essentially, all you do is put all the vegetables, broth/stock and a dollop of tomato paste into a pot, bring it to a boil then that’s it.
I don’t even need to try it to know that it would be rather bland. I just couldn’t bring myself to make it. So I made up my own version. of a healthy vegetable soup:-)
Yes, mine involves a tiny bit of oil so a soffrito of onion, celery and carrots can be slowly sautéed until sweet which creates a beautiful flavour base for this soup. There is a reason that this is the way that many of the greatest classics in this world start – like Beef Ragu!
In addition to the soffrito, I also sauté oregano and fennel. Much like hot water makes the flavour of cocoa powder “bloom”, sautéing dried herbs and spices really opens up their flavour. If you haven’t tried it before, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
I know fennel may sound like an interesting choice, but the reason I chose it is because I wanted to give this soup a Spanish kick and what better way to give a soup a big flavour kick than to use Chorizo seasonings? 🙂
So that’s why I use fennel. It’s very subtle and not a key ingredient, so skip it if you don’t like or have it.
But if you do buy it especially to use in this recipe (and it costs no more than the usual dried herbs), use the leftovers to make my brother’s epic Sausage Rolls. They are da bomb! – Nagi x
Soup Dippers
Quick Cheesy Garlic Bread • Better-Than-Dominos Garlic Bread • Soft No Knead Dinner Rolls
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Healthy Vegetable Soup (0.4 WW Points) recipe video!
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Spanish Healthy Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
Soup:
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
- 2 medium carrots , finely chopped
- 1 large celery stalk/rib , finely chopped
- 2 red capsicums / bell peppers , cut into 2 cm / 4/5” pieces
- 5 cups cabbage , cut into 3 cm / 1.2” pieces (about 400g/14oz)
- 800g / 28 oz crushed tomato
- 3 cups (750 ml) vegetable or chicken broth (low fat!)
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika (or any paprika)
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust spiciness to taste)
Finishes (not optional!):
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lemon – zest + juice to taste
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 30 seconds or so.
- Add oregano and fennel seeds, cook for 2 minutes (lets flavour “bloom”).
- Turn heat down to medium low. Add carrots and celery, cook, stirring regularly, for 8 minutes until onion is sweet (not browned). This step is key to the flavour base of this soup.
- Add capsicum, turn heat up to high and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add remaining Soup ingredients, bring to simmer then place lid on. Turn heat down to medium low, simmer for 25 minutes.
- Remove lid, adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle soup into bowls. Grate over lemon zest, squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle with parsley. Serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
When Dozer sings…
Hi, its really healthy soup, used healthy ingredients thanks for sharing this soup i will try this recipe
Thanks Jessica! I do hope you try it one day! N xx
Corn dog? Surely you mean Pluto Pup?
Is that another name for them??? 🙂
Are you playing funnies? How long have you lived here? Never been to the Show, or a farmers market? Mate, they’re Pluto Pups.
I know the Yanks call them corn dogs, and I suppose that will catch on here eventually, like x-y-zee in the alphabet, but never with people of my generation.
We speak Australian, not American.
Pluto Pup.
PS: Made a bad blue, using up leftover veggies and chucked in 1/4 red cabbage. Soup looks like it was cooked in squid ink. Sigh.
Hi Paul! Maybe I’m just blind to these at our markets, I swear they are not sold at any local markets I’ve been too! PS Thanks for the tip on red cabbage, I will add that tip!
PS I’ve lived in Australia since I was 3.
Nagi…MSG…excommunicate any helpful knowledge in your blog. Good on you.
I just love your recipies! Tho, I will tweak some of the ingredients.
Out of curiosity, any chance you will make it to Arizona? I would love to meet u & discuss cooking recipies w you!
Hi Deborah! Definitely tweak the ingredients, that’s the beauty of recipes like this, they are a great “guide”! 🙂 Unfortunately won’t be making it out to Arizona this trip but it’s on my list! I have friends there I have been promising to visit for years and years! N x
Oh, Nagi,
Lovely to have you visit Canada, Nagi. The Calgary Stampede is a long-established tradition, perhaps now, long-in-the-tooth but for history’s sake, I guess an icon of bygone times. The mid-way that accompanies it, with myriad snackstalls, is up from the States, travels to all Canadian venues and, as such, brings with it the large proportions you mention. In my sussing, Canucks are still a little shy of such sagging plates. Welcome, dear, but please don’t jam us into the gargantuan over-consumption of our neighbours to the south.
Hi Wee!! I say it all in good jest 🙂 Actually, there were sensible sized portions of everything too, it is just that I could never resist the word “GIANT”!!! 🙂 N xx
Another great soup Nagi!
Wow you are in Calgary!
Sounds like you are having a good time over there! Beautiful pictures! Enjoy your vacation!
Having an amazing time!!!! N xx
Welcome to Alberta! I am glad you are enjoying yourself in Calgary, but you also need to visit us up here in Edmonton!
We boast the largest shopping mall in the world (okay, so I am a bit biased as I work in one of the shops, Build-A-Bear do you have one in Sydney?) and lots of other great things to see and do!
Enjoy yourself, and if you do get up to West Edmonton Mall, pop into the store and see if I am working!
OMG can you believe that the one other person I know in Alberta lives in Edmonton and I was supposed to go up but plans changed?? I definitely hope to get up there one of these days!!
Welcome to Canada! Are you coming out to the West Coast?
Thanks Ani! Unfortunately not this time – but I WILL BE BACK! This was a quick trip to visit a friend and the Stampede 🙂 N xx
Wow, women what are you Geting up to!!?. Please make sure you came home with all bones in place. That’s my kind of recepies, soup, more soup, Love it. Dear neighbour says are we having more soup….Do you know on real cold day( on Tues 02 C) would drink home made chicken stock to warme up. Thank you for your time and effort much appreciated . Nagi, with my sister still nothing, back to hospital tomorrow for talk and they think next week treatment. Hope, Hope God they know what they are doing. This is Realy NERVE WRECKING, TUMMY IS DOING MERRY GO AROUND, MY HANDS ARE SHAKING….. HOPE FOR SUNSHINE. You’ll have weather shock on return. Sydney was colder than Melb.. Look after your self and HAVE BLAST OF A TIME!! Vera.
Ha ha ha! Believe me I am! Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear your sister is still getting the run around. That’s just so terrible. I will think of her. And yes….I expect the weather will be a shock….I’m now in NYC and it is rather hot!! N xx
Enjoy your stay in Calgary. I’m from Brisbane and have been living in Calgary for 30 years. Great place to live.
Fellow Aussie in Calgary!!!! So…you cope with the -30C winters??? 😂
Nagi you look absolutely lovely, especially with those little baby hands clamped round those huge fried confections. I bet you didn’t manage to eat all of them!!! You are too little.
I am looking forward to making this lovely looking soup, not that I wouldn’t like to sample a few bits of what’s around you – everything’s FRIED. 😀🎉🤣
Have a brilliant holiday!
BA HA HA!!!! 😂 OMG it is so true so true, my tiny hands barely able to wrap around that GIANT Corn Dog!!! I must confess even between Jo and I we barely made a dent in that corn dog. It was a meal for a week!!!! N xx
Hello,Nagi.
I like your vegetable soup!
I am very pleased that I found your blog.Last night I made the ciocolate cake,without flour, and my grandchildren were very happy.
Thank you very much!
Oh wow! Your lucky grandchildren! ❤️
I will have to try this version. By the way what is the difference between soffrito and mirepoix?
There is basicly no difference. Soffrito is Italian for the very same French process of mirepoix which is the very basic way to start off good soup, celery, carrots, and onions. I learned that from the very great late Chef, Julia Chiles. God rest her soul, but If I know anything about Heaven, she’s cooking up a storm up there too… LOL
PS:
I have been making this “Cabbage Soup Diet” for years when ever I go off the deep end and put on a unhealthy amount of weight. This soup believe me does the trick, but you also have to follow the seven day regime of the meals involved.
This soup will be a nice substitute to have when your not looking to lose the unhealthy pounds. Bon Appetite!
Julia Childs is one of my idols 🙂 I learned the best of French cooking from her!!!! N xx
Hi Kathleen! Great question 🙂 It’s basically the same – different countries have different names for it. Soffrito is Italian, Mirepoix is French and I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s called for Southern dishes e.g. New Orleans recipes. I’m sure there’s another name for it – it jus escapes me right now! N xx
I love the changes you made to the original Weight Watchers recipe – it’s so much better tasting. I made two changes – I changed the broth to Better Than Bouillon Vegetable or Chicken – because they has no MSG in them. I also dumped the cabbage – just not a fan of cooked cabbage – prefer it as cole slaw. I also pureed this soup (as I am not a fan at eating chucks of veggies and neither are my kids) so if I hide them – then we will eat this. By the way, this is also a good morning drink for breakfast too. Thanks again for sharing and thanks for sharing your pictures from Calgary – they were great. But you need to come to Sacramento, CA when we have our state fair – this year July 14th. I think you’d love it.
WOAH – you made it already?? That sounds amazing Kathi! I thought about making it a half pureed chunky style soup but stuck to this version. 🙂 I BET I would love the Sacramento State Fair. I’ve never been to a state fair! N x
Well, the Calgarians have nothing on all of the State Fairs in the US! They do the same thing — if they can fry it they will!! And your soup does sound like Minestrone! How about adding a fennel bulb to the pot? And I do agree that putting hot pepper flakes in the oil first as well as dried herbs release their flavor. It may be summer here but Hubby just made a big pot of Hot Sour Soup — so, so good. I simply love soups! And Dozer must be calling for you to come home. It must be a sad lament. 😉
I glad you’re having a great time. Looking forward to seeing what you’re up to next! Hugs!!
BA HA HA! I love the friendly rivalry – I KNEW I’d get a rise out of someone! Calgary calls the Stampede “the greatest show on earth” 😉 Oooh, how did I forget fennel? I actually had fennel! That would really drive home the mediterranean flavours in this! PS Hot Sour Soup in the middle of summer?? Marisa, I’m breaking into a sweat at the thought of that in the middle of a stinking hot summer! 😂
Calgary may not have a lot on the big American fairs, but what we do have is a great exchange rate compared to the US. Your dollar goes so much further here so you can enjoy all the food you want. (And everyone knows how friendly Canadians are. LOL). Love the changes to the recipe which I make all the time! Will have to try it out soon.
It’s so true!!! I was delighted to be able to price everything 1:1 🙂 I had such a great time! N xx
And of course enjoy your vacation and all the deep-fried food. I love fried food and hope that this soup will help me slim down a bit before my beach holiday next week LOL
Deep Fried Goodness, I call it. I am yet to come across fried food I don’t love. I even enjoyed frog legs!
Nagi, for the third time this week I started the morning by cooking one of your recipes (this soup, the SEXY lentil salad and the Thai coconut chicken which was marinated the day after at 04 AM!). All turned out amazing and I feel that I don’t have enough words to thank you. Before I found your blog I had more than fifty cooking blogs in my bookmarks and I hardly cooked from them. I love that you don’t compromise the flavor and don’t follow trends just for the sake of it. Thank you so much!
Love that you put the most important words in CAPS!!!! Thank you so much for your kind words Dina, I’m so pleased you enjoy my recipes. I’ every flattered! N xx
Calgary Stampede, what fun!
Talking about fried foods at big events, I once had deep fried butter at the Iowa State Fair.
Not much to it, just tasted like butter.
Soup is a favorite around these parts all year around, so we’re looking forward to trying your recipe.
Poor Dozer, he looks cold.
NO! Cholesterol on cholesterol????!!!
Thank you, Nagi. Your recipes are always a hit with my family. This vegetable soup is insanely good. Who knew blooming dried herbs would impart such wonderful flavors! WOW!! Such a big difference. By the way, I always enjoy seeing photos of Dozer. Such a fun loving happy puppy! Makes me smile.
It’s really terrific PJ! It works much better with dried herbs than spices – with spices it gets kinda of dry unless you use stacks of oil, but herbs works a treat. I learnt that trick from a Mexican corn soup which uses the same technique 🙂 So pleased you enjoy the photos of Dozer and his crazy antics! N xx
Hi Nagi. I love the picture of you with that corn dog, cowboy boots would have been perfect for that outfit! Now about this soup Wow ! It has been in the 90’s here, but I’d eat this right now. I always put cabbage into vegetable and vegetable beef soup. I like to use as many vegetables as I can when making soups, not necessarily for the health benefit, I just happen to love vegetables. PS my dogs sing too.
OK, so don’t judge me Dorothy but I’m seriously contemplating getting boots….I had so much fun at the stampede, I want to go back next year! I really want to see more rodeo – and I figure if I’m that serious about it, then next time I need to gear up properly!!!! PS Is the singing of your pups really annoying too? He looks cute but it’s SO annoying when he won’t shut up!
Hi Nagi. Now you’re talking girl ! Check out elk skin boots, they are SOOO comfortable and please, please do not get pink or any color other than brown (or black) and no rhinestones!! Cowboy boots should functional, not glitzy. There’s my two cents worth. Play on my friend!
OK I will REALLY try to remember….function first, looks second….function first, looks second….😂
I’m in NYC now and came across a shoe store with cowboy boots! I kept chanting (silently)…..looks first, function second, looks first, function second….