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Close up of Cabbage and Orzo Stew with fresh herbs in a gray bowl.

Creamy Cabbage & Orzo Stew

A bit of spice from the sausage, a slight sweetness from the brown sugar, a bit of crunch from the cabbage, and tender orzo all come together to create a dish that is thick, creamy, and oh so cozy.
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 8 (about 2 cups each)

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Large Stock Pot
  • Spatula
  • Ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Hot Country Sausage
  • 1 red onion diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 oz tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 head cabbage chopped
  • 1 cup carrots sliced
  • 5-6 cups beef broth
  • 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 14 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 3-4 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1-2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions
 

  • Brown Sausage & Saute Onions & Garlic: Add a bit of neutral cooking oil to a large stock pot over medium heat. Add hot country sausage and cook and break apart until browned and crumbled- about 4 minutes. Add diced red onions and minced garlic cloves to pot. Continue cooking and stirring 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant and just beginning to brown.
  • Add Vegetables, Seasonings, Broth & Simmer: Stir in dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir until fully combined. Add chopped cabbage, sliced carrots, tomato sauce, fire roasted diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Pour beef broth over everything and give it a quick stir to combine. Turn heat to medium- high. Once broth begins to bubble cover pot with a lid, and turn heat down to medium-low. Allow stew to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add Orzo & Cream: Add orzo pasta to pot. Stir to combine, re-cover, and allow to simmer for 12-16 minutes more minutes until pasta is tender. After pasta has cooked, remove pot from heat and stir in heavy cream. Grab the comfiest blankets & make yourself a giant bowl.

Notes

  • Don’t skip on the brown sugar! It adds a sweetness that truly balances the whole flavor.
  • Instead of orzo, Ditalini, Small Elbow Macaroni, Broken Spaghetti, or Stelline can be used.
Keyword brown sugar, cabbage, cabbage and sausage recipe, easy stew, fall dinner ideas, fall soup, heavy cream, one pot meals, one pot stew, orzo, spicy sausage, stew
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