creamy cabbage soup

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups sweet onions (vidalia or walla walla), diced
• 1 1/2 cups carrots, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup red peppers, diced
• 1 teaspoon ground himalayan sea salt, or to taste and divided
• 3 large cloves garlic, pressed
• 1/2 tablespoon herbes de provence
• 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika, or to taste
• 5 cups green cabbage, cored and chopped
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups whole milk
• herb garlic parmesan croutons, as needed
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped