Heat oil in a soup pot. Saute onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and bay leaf for 2 minutes. The veggies need to be softened and aromatic.
Add roasted red pepper and tomatoes. Mix and saute for a minute.
Stir in chopped cabbage, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper. Add the stock. Give everything a mix. Cover and cook for 5-8 minutes until the veggies are cooked to desired doneness. ( i prefer to keep the veggies just cooked, tender but still a bit crisp).
Once done, add chopped parsley, and serve.
Video
Notes
If the tomatoes are tart, add a large pinch of sugar to balance the tartness.
Start with 4 cups of stock and adjust the consistency later.