Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup Recipe

Can you freeze lentil soup? Yes! This easy, one-pot, hearty lentil soup can be made in large batches and frozen in freezer bags, ice-cube trays, or freezer-safe containers. If you have picky eaters in your family, this Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup Recipe will be a hit for sure! Feel free to sneak in extra vegetables like kale, tomatoes, and celery so you can be sure that they are getting all the nutrients.

Why You’ll Love This Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup Recipe

You might be thinking…can you freeze lentil soup? YES, you can! My Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup Recipe will blow your mind.  Go ahead and grab your favorite vegetables and the rest of the ingredients from the pantry and buckle up because you are in for a tasty ride.

The smell of a big pot of soup on the stove is one of the most satisfying aromas, it radiates relaxation and comfort, and lures the family to the dinner table. When soup is on the menu it may prompt us into thinking about the transition of seasons, but truly soup is a hit all year long! This Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup is a well-balanced, creamy, healthy one-pot-wonder that is so convenient to make. It is an amazing cook-ahead meal that is a great way to leverage whatever’s in the refrigerator, and there are so many accompaniments to them, which we’ll talk about a little later.

Equipment

Stove Top | Immersion Blender/Stick Blender/ Regular Blender

Ingredients & Substitutions

It doesn’t have to take a lot of complex ingredients to make a robust pot of Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup with a medley of spices. Here are the ingredients you will need to make this delightful dish.

• Olive oil, onion, garlic- This trio of ingredients are just the start as we begin to layer the sweet and nutty flavors of this aromatic soup.
• Carrot- Adding body, texture, color, and sweetness, carrots are such a complement to lentils.
• Celery- Providing its crunch and color, celery enhances the vegetable broth in this soup.
• Lentils- Earthy and nutty in flavor, green or brown lentils are both great options.
• Tomatoes- This recipe calls for crushed tomatoes here, but fresh ones will be great as well.
• Vegetable broth- Go with canned vegetable broth or make your own!
• Cumin, coriander, and bay leaves- These three ingredients are a must in this soup, it elevates the flavors and adds so much depth to this soup, giving it the ‘cooking all day’ aromas.
• Lemon- The zest and juice of a lemon freshens up this delicious Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup, can’t do without it!
• Salt, pepper, kale- Adding the finishing touches of a dash of salt and pepper to taste and hitting it with some chopped kale on the top, voila!

One of the reasons soups are so effortless and versatile is that you can throw everything in one pot! If you don’t have something in your pantry there is always a substitution. In my home, the kiddos all like different vegetables, so I try to include their favorites, especially in soup dishes. Here are a few swaps that I find helpful.

• Instead of carrots, sweet potatoes or even butternut squash will taste amazing and hold up well in the freezer. So, you may ask, can you freeze lentil soup? Yes! Keep reading and I’ll show you how.
• If you are out of fresh garlic, garlic paste can be used as well.
• Reach for white onions or yellow onions in this recipe.
• That crunch factor that celery lends is so pleasant in this soup, baby bok choy and leeks are great alternatives as well.

If you would rather use fresh tomatoes, that is a great substitution, try roasting them before adding them to the soup for an added smoky flavor.

How to make this Healthy Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup

This easy and healthy Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup tastes like it’s been cooking on your stove for hours! I would encourage you to make an extra batch because you may have some neighbors knocking!

• Sauté- Add the olive oil in the pot, once heated, throw in the garlic and onion. Within a couple of minutes, they will start to smell amazing, add the chopped celery and carrots. Once they become softened and the onion becomes caramelized, we are ready for the next step. This should take about 7-10 minutes.
• Simmer and wait- Go ahead and add the lentils, tomatoes, and vegetable stock, bringing everything to an active boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Season and simmer- Add all remaining ingredients (cumin, coriander, bay leaves) except lemon and salt, stir, and cover the pot with a lid. Leave for about 20 minutes or so, until the lentils get tender.
• Using an immersion  or a stick blender, do 2 or 3 quick whizzes to thicken the soup. You can also transfer 2 cups of cooled soup to a blender, blend, then transfer it back to the pot. Feel free to add water if you want to adjust the soup consistency.
• Taste and top it off- Check the flavors and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the zest of a lemon and add a squeeze of lemon juice and garnish with kale just before serving.

This Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup can stand on its own giving you a satisfied, belly full of flavor, and nutrition. If you like to have sides while enjoying this gourmet-tasting bowl of soup, here are a few that complement it.

Sweet Potato and Kale Salad- Wanna go the soup and salad route? There is no skimping on the flavors of this superfood salad of sweet potato and kale.
Vegan Naan– I can never say no to naan. This recipe is a healthier version of the typical bread option if you are needing something to sap up all the leftover soup in your bowl.
Peas Pulao (Matar Pulao): Easy Rice Recipe- A side of this beautifully tasting vegetable rice dish made with basmati rice is a perfect addition to this Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup.

Expert Tips

Gone are the days when soup was mostly eaten during colder months, this underdog has slowly become a favorite despite the seasons. Soup is on the menu all year round and I am certainly not complaining about it. With that said, here are my secret tips for success in this nutritious Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup!

• Wash and rinse the lentils very well to remove any debris.
• Try not to overcook the lentils as the texture will become mushy.
• Feel free to adjust the consistency of the soup to your liking. If you would rather have a smoother soup without texture, just blend a little longer.
• Sliced avocados on top can be a tasty and creamy surprise!

Storage and Reheating for Lentil Soup

When making this inexpensive Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup, I tend to make a couple of batches. Here are my tried-and-true storage and reheating tips and tricks.

• I recommend storing leftover lentil soup  in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.  Make sure you soup of cooked completely before you refrigerate it.
• Can you freeze lentil soup? Of course! After allowing it to cool completely, you have the versatility of freezing in freezer-safe containers, freezer bags, whichever you have on hand, or even ice cube trays. I find myself using the freezer bags because it uses up less room in the freezer and I can stack them on top of each other. Whichever option you decide to use, be sure not to overfill as liquids expand during freezing. Feel free to store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• If reheating from the refrigerator, you can use the microwave heating all the way through. If reheating from the freezer, I recommend taking out and defrosting in the refrigerator and reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated completely through.

Variations

For all the lentil fans out there, this section is for you, there’s no wasting, let’s use it all up!

• Boil a pack of your favorite gluten-free noodles and mix them in your soup to create an entirely different dish.
• If you are adding extra vegetables, remember to put in extra liquid until your desired consistency is met.
• Serve over boiled and cubed sweet potatoes or butternut squash for a sweet and savory heavenly combination packed with nutrients.
• Strain the sauce from the lentil soup and add the lentils on top of a salad, or in a warmed tortilla with lettuce for a quick and healthy lunch wrap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you freeze lentil and vegetable soup?

Certainly! Which is why I love making soups in batches. After allowing it to cool completely at room temperature, place soup in the appropriate portion size either in freezer-safe containers, bags, or ice trays. This Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup stores perfectly without sacrificing any flavor for up to 6 months in the freezer. If you decide to freeze in ice-cube trays, once the soup is frozen, take them out of the trays and place them in a freezer-safe bag to prevent freezer burn. Whichever option you decide to use, just a tip not to overfill as liquids expand during freezing.

What is the best way to freeze lentil soup?

The best way to freeze this wholesome Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup would be in either freezer-safe containers, freezer-safe bags, or ice cube trays.

How do you defrost lentil soup?

Take the soup out of the freezer and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator in a bowl or plate overnight or for about 4-6 hours until completely thawed. Using a dish while thawing prevents the liquid from spilling over in the refrigerator while thawing.

Let me know how your Freezer-Friendly Lentil Soup turned out by adding a comment below or by sharing with me on Instagram @veggiecurean.com.

Bon Appétit