Hearty Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup Recipe for Cozy Days

Steaming with comfort and tradition, this robust irish bacon cabbage and potato soup brings warmth to any chilly evening.

Cold winds can’t compete with the rich, savory flavors simmering in your kitchen.

Each spoonful tells a story of generations of Irish home cooking.

Crispy bacon bits dance alongside tender potatoes and soft cabbage, creating a symphony of textures.

The hearty ingredients meld together, releasing an aroma that beckons you to the table.

Simple yet satisfying, this soup embodies the soul of rustic Irish cuisine.

Grab a crusty bread and prepare to savor every delicious bite of this classic comfort meal.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 340 kcal

Servings: 5

What Goes Into Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup

• Irish Bacon: Brings robust, smoky flavor and creates a rich foundation for the soup's depth, choose a high-quality, lean cut with balanced fat marbling.
• Chicken or Vegetable Stock: Provides liquid base and enhances overall soup's savory profile, select low-sodium options for better flavor control.

• Onion: Delivers sweet, aromatic undertones and builds soup's flavor complexity, select fresh, firm bulbs without soft spots.
• Garlic: Adds intense, pungent notes that complement bacon's richness, choose firm cloves with tight, unblemished skin.
• Potatoes: Creates hearty texture and thickens soup naturally, opt for waxy varieties like Yukon Gold for best consistency.
• Cabbage: Introduces subtle sweetness and nutritional boost, pick fresh, crisp heads with vibrant green leaves.

• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious, silky smoothness to soup, use high-fat content cream for richer mouthfeel.
• Parsley: Provides fresh, bright garnish that cuts through soup's richness, select bright green, perky leaves.
• Salt and Pepper: Balances and enhances overall flavor profile, use freshly ground black pepper for maximum impact.

Equipment Needed For Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup

• Large Pot or Dutch Oven: Essential for cooking bacon and building soup layers.
• Slotted Spoon: Perfect for removing crispy bacon while keeping fat in the pot.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping bacon, onions, potatoes, and parsley.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for precise vegetable and herb preparation.
• Immersion Blender (Optional): Helps create creamy texture without transferring hot soup.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: Useful for accurate stock and seasoning measurements.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring and combining ingredients smoothly.

How To Make Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup

• Crisp the Bacon

Sizzle chopped bacon in a large pot over medium heat until golden and crunchy. Scoop out the bacon pieces, leaving behind the flavorful fat.

• Build the Base

Toss diced onions into the bacon drippings and cook until they turn soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and let it dance around for a minute.

• Simmer the Spuds

Drop diced potatoes into the pot and pour in stock. Bring to a rolling boil, then lower the heat and let everything bubble gently until potatoes are fork-tender.

• Welcome the Cabbage

Toss shredded cabbage into the pot and let it mingle with the other ingredients. Cook until the cabbage wilts and becomes tender.

• Blend and Finish

For extra smoothness, use an immersion blender to partially break down the soup. Splash in some cream for richness and season with salt and pepper.

• Serve with Flair

Ladle the steaming soup into bowls. Crown each serving with crispy bacon bits and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Pair with a chunky slice of bread for the ultimate comfort meal.

Helpful Ideas For Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup

• Potato Perfection Hack: Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for a thicker, more velvety soup texture that helps create a heartier consistency.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream to make the soup entirely plant-based while maintaining a rich, creamy finish.
• Low-Carb Transformation: Replace potatoes with cauliflower florets to reduce carbohydrate content while keeping the soup's classic flavor profile and comforting warmth.
• Flavor Boost Technique: Toast whole spices like caraway or cumin seeds in the bacon fat before adding onions to introduce a deeper, more complex flavor dimension that elevates the traditional Irish soup.
• Freezer-Friendly Meal Prep: This soup freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Store in airtight containers, leaving some space for expansion, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stovetop.

Ways To Serve Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup

• Hearty Bread Companion: Slice thick, rustic sourdough or Irish soda bread to soak up the delicious soup broth, providing a perfect textural contrast.
• Creamy Cheese Topping: Sprinkle sharp Irish cheddar or crumbled goat cheese on top, adding a tangy richness that complements the bacon and potato flavors.
• Fresh Green Accent: Scatter additional chopped fresh parsley or chives over the soup for a bright, herbaceous note that cuts through the richness and adds visual appeal.
• Cozy Side Salad: Pair with a light green salad dressed in a simple vinaigrette to balance the soup's hearty nature and provide a fresh, crisp counterpoint.

How To Store Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup

• Hearty Batch Cooking: Prepare double the recipe and freeze extra portions in airtight containers for quick meals during busy weeks.
• Refrigerator Storage Magic: Keep soup sealed in glass containers for up to 4 days, ensuring maximum flavor retention and food safety.
• Smart Reheating Technique: Warm slowly on stovetop, adding splash of fresh stock to restore original consistency and prevent separation of ingredients.
• Ingredient Freshness Hack: Store crispy bacon separately from soup to maintain crunchiness when reheating, adding just before serving for perfect texture.

Hearty Irish Bacon Cabbage And Potato Soup Recipe

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4.7 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Hearty Irish bacon cabbage and potato soup delivers comforting flavors from traditional Irish cuisine. Rich ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a warm and satisfying bowl perfect for chilly days.

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Ingredients

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• 6 slices bacon (thick-cut or Irish back), chopped
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold), peeled and diced
• 2 cups (200 g / 7 oz) green cabbage, shredded
• 4 cups (1 l / 33.8 fl oz) chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 cups (500 ml / 16.9 fl oz) water
• ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) heavy cream (optional)
• 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Crusty bread (for serving)

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Instructions

1. Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a spacious pot until golden, then remove pieces while preserving the rendered fat, creating a flavor-rich foundation for the soup.
2. Aromatic Base Development: Sauté onions and garlic in bacon drippings, allowing them to soften and release their intricate flavors, establishing a robust aromatic groundwork.
3. Liquid Integration and Potato Cooking: Add potatoes, chicken stock, and water to the pot. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing potatoes to become fork-tender and absorb the developing flavor profile.
4. Cabbage Incorporation and Texture Refinement: Introduce shredded cabbage into the simmering liquid, letting it soften while maintaining a slight crispness. Utilize an immersion blender to partially break down the soup, creating a rustic, textured consistency with visible vegetable fragments.
5. Final Enrichment and Seasoning: Stream heavy cream into the soup, stirring to create a luxurious, velvety texture. Season meticulously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, balancing the flavor components with precision.
6. Serving Presentation: Ladle the soup into serving bowls, garnish with reserved crispy bacon pieces and freshly chopped parsley. Serve alongside a crusty artisan bread to complete the hearty, comforting meal.

Notes

• Optimize Bacon Rendering: Cook bacon slowly over medium-low heat to guarantee maximum fat extraction and crispy texture without burning.
• Cabbage Texture Control: Add cabbage in stages and monitor cooking time to maintain a perfect balance between tenderness and slight crunch, preventing mushiness.
• Blending Technique: Use immersion blender sparingly, creating a rustic soup with some intact vegetable pieces for authentic, hearty mouthfeel.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or vegetable broth for a lighter, vegan-friendly version without compromising rich flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Irish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 340
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg