Asian-Style Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe: Healthy, Filling & Delicious

Need a delicious way to get back on track after the weekend? This is it!
My Asian-style twist on the classic Cabbage Soup Diet recipe is loaded with shredded cabbage, carrots, and broccoli slaw in a flavorful broth. You get a huge, satisfying bowl packed with vegetables that's hearty enough to enjoy as a main meal.
Best of all, each generous 2-cup serving has just 150 calories and 2 grams of fat. It’s healthy, filling, incredibly tasty—and even my family loves it!
Diet Cabbage Soup

Ingredients for Asian-Style Cabbage Soup

Fat:
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil: This liquid fat adds richness and helps brown the chicken and vegetables.
Protein:
  • 16 ounces raw chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), cut into very small pieces: Lean protein source for the soup.
Vegetables:
  • 1 cup red bell peppers, diced: Adds sweetness and vibrant color.
  • 1 cup onions, chopped: Provides base flavor for the broth.
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced (from a jar): Offers a warming and slightly spicy taste.
  • 1 tablespoon garlic cloves, minced: Adds a sharp and savory flavor.
  • 1 (12 oz) bag shredded cabbage: Main vegetable, low in calories and high in fiber.
  • 1 (10-12 oz) package broccoli slaw or more shredded cabbage: Additional source of fiber and nutrients.
  • 1 (10 oz) package carrots, shredded: Adds sweetness and beta-carotene.
Broth:
  • 10 cups Swanson's reduced-sodium chicken broth or your favorite: Forms the base of the soup and adds flavor.
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or cider vinegar: Provides acidity and brightness to the broth.
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce (use Tamari for gluten-free): Adds umami flavor and saltiness.
Spice:
  • ¼-½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste): Offers optional heat depending on preference.

How to Make Asian-Style Cabbage Soup

  • Prepare the pan and aromatics: Lightly coat a large pan or pot with cooking spray. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat.
  • Sauté the chicken and vegetables: Add the diced chicken, red bell peppers, onions, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir-fry constantly for 4-5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and slightly browned.
  • Build the soup: Pour in the chicken broth, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Add the shredded cabbage, broccoli slaw, and carrots. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Simmer and soften: Reduce heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and cooked through.
  • Enjoy and store. Leftovers can be frozen in portion-sized containers for later enjoyment.
Tips:
  • Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes for desired spice level.

Helpful Tips About this Recipe

Food Facts
Remember the old Cabbage Soup Diet? This recipe was inspired by that famous cabbage soup, but I gave mine a delicious Asian-style twist with chicken, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and loads of vegetables.
I enjoy this soup for lunch or dinner, and since it freezes beautifully, I usually divide the extras into individual portions to enjoy another day.
Healthy Benefits
Such a healthy way to get veggies into your diet. This soup is low-calorie, low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free and dairy-free. The one thing it’s not…Low in sodium. All the sodium in this soup comes from the chicken broth and reduced-sodium soy sauce. If you are on a low-sodium diet, this soup is probably not a good choice for you. 
Shopping Tips
I’ve tried most of the chicken broths available and my favorite is Swanson’s reduced-sodium chicken broth. It comes in a 10, 32, and 48-ounce container.
If you are on a strict low-sodium diet, choose a chicken broth that has a lot less sodium than this one. Most markets sell a no-sodium chicken broth
Chopped or crushed ginger, in a jar, can be found in the produce section near garlic, in a jar.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 0-Blue
WW SmartPoints 
1-Green
SKINNY FACTS: for 1 main course serving (2 cups each)
150 calories, 2g fat, 1g sat. fat, 28mg chol, 20g prot, 15g carbs, 4g fiber, 1,309mg sodium, 5g sugar
FACTS: for Freestyle SmartPoints (2 cups)
24 calories, 0g sat. fat, 1g sugar, 4g protein
A New Cabbage Soup Diet Soup

 

Diet Cabbage Soup

Asian-Style Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe: Healthy, Filling & Delicious

4.75 from 8 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Asian
Servings 8
Calories 150 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 16 ounces raw chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), cut into very small pieces
  • 1 cup red bell peppers, diced
  • 1 cup onions, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, from a jar, see shopping tips
  • 1 tablespoon garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼-½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 10 cups Swanson’s reduced-sodium chicken broth or your favorite, see shopping tips
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce (use Tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 (12 oz) bag shredded cabbage
  • 1 (10-12 oz) package broccoli slaw or more shredded cabbage
  • 1 (10 oz) package carrots, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Coat a large nonstick pan or pot with cooking spray. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in pan. Add chicken, red bell peppers and onions, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir fry for 4-5 minutes until chicken is cooked.  Stir often.
  • Mix in chicken broth, rice vinegar, soy sauce, cabbage, broccoli slaw, and carrots. Bring back to a boil, cover, and turn down to simmer. Continue to simmer until veggies are soft, about 10-15 minutes. 
  • The extra servings freeze great. Divide and freeze in pint-size containers.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cupsCalories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 20gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 1309mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gGreen Smart Points: 1Plus Points: 4
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
author avatar
Nancy Fox
4.75 from 8 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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22 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love the flavors! I’m cooking it a bit longer than recommended because I’d prefer veggies a bit softer.
    Thanks Nancy
    PS
    LOL, I’m still waiting on my signed copy of your first edition Skinny kitchen:-)

  2. You could bring the sodium way down by using a much lower sodium chicken broth. Most markets sell one including Trader Joe’s. They even make a no-sodium broth. That said it will taste quite different without the sodium. I hope this helps, Melanie!
    My very best,
    Nancy