Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up fast and I thought I would share this gorgeous yet healthier dish, Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup. This is a great way to still enjoy the decadence of a delicious Irish meal with fewer calories and yet all the goodness. This makes a big pot so I already have enough again to share for my St. Patrick’s Day.
My family is big lovers of corned beef and cabbage and we always wonder why we only have it once a year. It is so good, with this recipe you can enjoy it many more times as it is lightened up and a lovely healthier version of your traditional meal. We always have our cabbage done in butter and cream or roasted cabbage which are divine!
In this recipe I wanted to add in wonderful Creamer potatoes, I actually don’t buy any other potatoes now or very little. Little Potato Company’s potatoes fit the bill for so many dishes and can be used in a great healthy recipe like this one. Little potatoes are rich in potassium. They are also packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. They’re gluten-free, and contain zero fat, sodium or cholesterol but best of all they are delicious. I love the creamy centers and they don’t take long to cook at all, 5 min. in the microwave, 15 min. to boil, 30 min. to bake and 40 min. to grill. Plus they are washed and ready to use right out of the bag.
For this recipe I used Blushing Belles, they are a red Creamer potatoes with blushing red skins and creamy yellow centers. They added a little extra color to this fantastic soup and so much heartiness for only 20 calories per potato!
The broth is light as it is only water but the corned beef adds all the flavor as it cooks low and slow for a long time. Plus I added in a little bouquet garni for some extra flavoring that heightened what the corned beef had. Enjoy this with your family and friends and pull out the corned beef more often from the meat department, you will be so glad you did!
The Recipe

Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
A wonderfully lightened up Irish dinner that can be enjoyed on St. Patrick's Day or any other.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 3 tsp. garlic
- 3 medium carrots, chopped
- 1 1/2 lb. lean corned beef brisket
- 12 cups water
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp. thyme
- 1 Tbsp. dried parsley
- Bouqet Garni of peppercorns, mustard seeds, fennel seeds and 3 cloves
- 1 small head cabbage, chopped
- 1-1 1/2 lb. bag of Little Potato Company's Blushing Belle potatoes, halved or quatered depending on size.
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large soup pot and over medium heat saute the onion and the garlic, until the onions are translucent. Add the carrots and saute for 3 min. Add the corned beef and any seasonings that come with the corned beef, bay leaves, water, thyme and dried parsley.
- With a small piece of cheese cloth folded 3 ply and twine make a little bouquet garni of the peppercorns, mustard seed and fennel adding in about 12 or so of each and then 3 cloves. Tie up with the twine. Add to the soup pot and bring up to a simmer. Simmer on low for about 3-4 hours or until the corned beef is tender. Remove the corned beef and shred on a cutting board, return it to the soup.
- Add in the cabbage, potatoes and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove the bouquet garni. Cook until the potatoes are tender about 30 min. Serve with chopped parsley.
Adapted from skinnytaste.com
Comments & Reviews
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
Hearty and so full of great flavor…perfect choice for St. Patrick’s Day dinner!
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Linda!!
English Johnston says
Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional Irish dish you would be hard placed to find anyone in Ireland who eats corned beef with anything.
The traditional dish is cabbage and bacon or ham.
Corned beef and cabbage is an Immigrants dish due to the poverty of immigrants, for many corned beef would be the only meat they could afford.
So Immigrants of many nationalities ate corned beef. So please research your traditional Irish dishes as an Irish citizen I find it galling to be told an American dish is Irish.
Tara Noland says
I never said it was a “traditional” Irish dish but corned beef and cabbage is so celebrated here in conjunction with St. Patrick’s Day. My grandmother was an Irish immigrant. Corned beef and cabbage is an American Irish meal that is loved here by many. There should be no gall as dishes get translated and changed as time goes on.
Platter Talk says
Thanks for posting this fantastic corned beef creation; we love that you made a soup with it! Bookmarking this for our St. Patty’s Day dinner which is just around the corner; great job on this one!
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much for your kind words, we sure did love it and can’t wait to have more as there is still some in the freezer!
Diane says
Yes it’s funny how corned beef is only allowed once a year. I never find it the rest of the year! I’m going shopping now for corned beef and I’m looking for some of those cute potatoes too! It’s time to rev up the corned beef recipes and this one looks like a stellar place to start! Yum!
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Diane, you can always freeze it too, the soup or the corned beef!
Katerina says
What a delicious, heart soup for St’ Patrick’s! I would dive into it in seconds!
The Food Hunter says
Little potatoes are so much fun to use in recipes.
Megan says
I often find myself unable to eat corned beef but I think my body can handle this lighter version. Thanks for sharing!
Tara Noland says
Yes, just select a nice lean cut or trim it yourself. You will love it!
Barrie says
I love this decontructed and re-structured corned beef and cabbage recipe! Plus, I always have left overs to use- this is perfect!
Tara Noland says
Thanks so much Barrie, ya would work great for leftovers too!
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
Love the addition of potatoes and cabbage, yum!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
It turned Autumn down here this week and this soup would be a real treat on a chilly evening.
Peter @ Feed Your Soul Too says
This is a super hearty and delicious looking soup.
Divya@Divya's Culinary Journey says
This soup looks so good! Hearty and delicious!
Nicole Neverman says
I love corned beef and I bet it tastes even more delicious as a soup!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Cabbage soup reminds me of my grandma, as she always made it. It’s so comforting.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
One of the prettiest soups EVER!
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
I love this combo, especially this time of year. The Irish side of The Hubby would find this amazing.
Janette@CulinaryGinger says
This is a delicious idea for a classic dish.
Michelle De La Cerda says
I love the little potato company, the are great! I like the healthy twist on the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal.
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Michelle!
Del's cooking twist says
I am not a huge fan of beef but this stew looks quite appealing!
Healing Tomato says
Talk about comfort food on a cold, rainy day! The potatoes fit right into the soup. Amazing recipe.
Manila Spoon says
We just had this for lunch but won’t mind having another bowl of this delicious soup! Perfect for spring!
Elizabeth says
Proper hearty comfort food soup, this, a perfect cold weather recipe!
heather @french press says
what a great idea! we love cb&c, and like you only have it once a year, but this soup could change that for sure!
uisce says
right so i’m irish and we ever eat this, what??