Unstuffed Cabbage Soup - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Unstuffed Cabbage Soup
Prep: 18 min
Cook: 17 min
Servings: 6
Lunch

This Unstuffed Cabbage Soup is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 255 calories, 20g protein, and 23g carbs per serving. Ready in 35 minutes. High in fiber (4g), which supports insulin sensitivity.

Nutrition per Serving

255 Calories
20g Protein
23g Carbs
10g Fat
Do you love stuffed cabbage, but don't have time to make it? This high-fiber soup is so easy and packs in all the flavors of traditional stuffed cabbage.

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 lb lean ground turkey
  • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
  • 32 oz unsalted chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 cup instant brown rice

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté 2-3 minutes or until the onions turn clear. Add the ground turkey and cook for 5-7 minutes until the turkey browns. Add the cabbage and cook for an additional 4 minutes.
  2. Add all remaining ingredients, except for the brown rice. Simmer the soup for 7 minutes. Bring the soup to a boil; add the brown rice. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot for 5 minutes.
  3. Recipe Cost: $8.05
  4. Choices/Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2 Nonstarchy Vegetable, 2 Lean Protein, 1 Fat

How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management

Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Unstuffed Cabbage Soup contribute to your health goals:

  • Chicken: Protein-rich meals help manage insulin resistance common in PCOS
  • Turkey: B vitamins play a role in energy metabolism and hormone regulation
  • Brown rice: Provides magnesium and B vitamins important for PCOS management
  • Olive oil: Anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for PCOS
  • Tomato: Antioxidants help combat oxidative stress elevated in PCOS

PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe

The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin), and healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that support cell membrane health and hormone synthesis. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.

Meal Prep Tip: This Unstuffed Cabbage Soup can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Brown Rice.

Brown rice is a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity.

You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?

One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.

1
Take the 60-Second Quiz Tell us your PCOS type, preferences, and goals
2
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this Unstuffed Cabbage Soup recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 255 calories per serving with 20g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 4g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.

This recipe takes about 35 minutes total. Prep time is 18 minutes and cook time is 17 minutes. It makes 6 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.

Per serving: 255 calories, 20g protein (31%), 23g carbs, 10g fat. Plus 4g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. At 255 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 6 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

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