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Home Recipe Index Freezer Meals Freezer Soups

Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup {Freezer Meal}

Updated: 4/20/22
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If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! #realfood #freezermeal #superhealthy I can’t wait to share this recipe with you. If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! It’s simply perfect for a summer day, especially when your fridge is overflowing with garden produce to use up. Here’s a bowl full of veggies my green-thumb friend, Nicole, sent me home with last week. This palette was quite an inspiration. You know cooking is art, don’t you? Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup Recipe: If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! #realfood #freezermeal #superhealthy Now, let’s talk lentils for a minute. Did I scare you off with a mention of those? If so, don’t shy away from these small round, lens shaped legumes. I hadn’t tried cooking with them until this recipe, and I tell you, I’m sold! Not only are they full of fiber and protein, but they made this soup hearty and rich-tasting. They really cook down in the broth, adding a buttery creaminess to the texture. The key, I learned, is using lots of seasoning to keep them from tasting bland in this soup. Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup: If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! #realfood #freezermeal #superhealthy One more thing to share before we get to the recipe. Would you believe that my kids even tried and ate some of this soup? All three of them–the 2, 4, and 6 year olds. That’s because they helped me pick the produce and chop it for the soup. The push to get kids in the kitchen isn’t just a nice theory. It really works if you’re wanting your children to try new foods and take an interest in where their food comes from. Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup Recipe: If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! #realfood #freezermeal #superhealthy My 6-year-old has become an expert chopper, as we’ve worked on his knife skills over the past year. My 4-year-old daughter isn’t too bad either. I usually give them a butter knife and it works fine, although I now trust my older son with a small sharp chopping knife. The 2-year-old picked herbs off the back porch for me and then proceeded to make his own “soup” while we cooked. What great fun in the kitchen (and quite a mess…yes…but worth it)! Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup Recipe: If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! #realfood #freezermeal #superhealthy Keep in mind, you can use all kinds of veggies in this recipe. Just toss in what you have on hand in place of the ones I suggest, if you want. Happy summer soup making! Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup: If you’re looking for a low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup….this is it! #realfood #freezermeal #superhealthy

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup recipe

Garden Vegetable and Lentil Soup Recipe

A low calorie, nutritionally-dense, and tasty soup that’s simply perfect for a summer day or a cold winter night.

Yield: 6-8 1x
Prep: 25 minutesCook: 20 minutesTotal: 45 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1–2 cups onion, chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • red pepper flakes, to taste
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 12 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • fresh thyme, bundle a few sprigs and tie together with kitchen twine or another sprig
  • 2–3 large carrots or 1 bag of baby carrots, chopped
  • 2 cups green beans, chopped
  • 1 small to medium zucchini, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • fresh herbs (i.e. parsley, basil, etc), chopped, to taste

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Note: Try to chop the vegetables about the same size and small enough to fit on a spoon bite.

  1. Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add onions, bay leaf, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Saute until softened. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
  3. Add lentils and thyme bundle and simmer about 10 minutes less than the lentil package directions call for.
  4. Add vegetables and simmer another 10 minutes.
  5. Remove bay leaf and thyme bundle. Top with freshly chopped herbs. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Serving suggestion: Top with fresh Parmesan cheese and serve with a good loaf of crusty bread.


Notes/Tips

Freezer Meal Instructions:

To Freeze:
Cook soup completely and let cool. Put soup in freezer-safe container or bag. Freezer for up to 3 months.
To Prepare:
Thaw soup in refrigerator overnight. You can also warm it from frozen on the stovetop.
*Note, you may need to add some more water or broth because the vegetables will absorb some of the liquid.

© Author: Thriving Home
Cuisine: American Method: Dutch Oven

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarBree says

    Posted on 1/16/16 at 10:04 am

    Have you tried it with other lentils besides red? I’m not sure I have red on hand so curious if it would effect it in any way. I often interchange different lentils.

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 1/16/16 at 4:57 pm

      Yes, it’s great with green lentils or quinoa. It honestly hard to mess this soup up. 🙂

      Reply
  2. AvatarDesgrez Virginie says

    Posted on 7/30/13 at 2:08 pm

    I tried this recipe tonight (we live in France!) and it was a success. My kid (2 and 1/2 years old) tried it and asked for more and my husband said it reminded him of and was better than Minestrone soup he had his first time in Italy. So thank you, I really enjoy thriving home as I can relate to most of your posts!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 7/30/13 at 2:28 pm

      Wonderful! I’m so glad to get some quick feedback. I love that your toddler tried it and liked it, too. Thanks for reading.

      Reply

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