This Curried Lentil Soup in a Jar is an affordable homemade gift. Read on for more Mason Jar Gift Ideas that are perfect for the holidays!
Ingredients and substitutions
Dry soup mix
- Red lentils – you can try using another lentil of your choice, I just find that red lentils are the best for soup.
- Garlic powder – onion powder would also be good.
- Onion flakes – leave these out if you don’t have any on hand.
- Curry powder – swap out for another spice like thyme, rosemary, chili powder, Italian seasoning or coriander.
- Paprika – or another spice of your choice.
- Turmeric – or another spice of your choice.
- Cumin – or another spice of your choice.
- Bouillon cube – you can use either a chicken or vegetable bouillon cube.
Soup add-ons
- Butter – sauté your veggies in a bit of olive oil instead.
- Carrots – add in another veggie like bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower or sweet potato.
- Celery stalks – squash, zucchini, cabbage, leeks or green beans would also be good.
- Coconut milk – you can leave this out, it just makes the soup nice and creamy.
- Spinach – swap out for some kale or Swiss chard instead.
How to make lentil soup in a jar
- Sauté the veggies.
- Add the liquid.
- Stir until dissolved.
- Simmer then serve!
More mason jar gift ideas
Before we dive too much into this lentil soup recipe, I thought I would offer up some other delicious Christmas food gifts for you to gather some ideas as we are quickly coming up on the holidays!
Here are some more amazing mason jar gift ideas that are perfect to make for your loved ones. They're an amazingly affordable way to get everybody a little something without having to run to too many different stores.
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar by Chattavore
- Moroccan Lentil Soup by The Healthy Maven
- S'mores Mason Jar Gift by A Night Owl
- Homemade Vanilla Cake Mix by Life, Love and Sugar
- Cinnamon Candied Almonds by Cooking Classy
- Gingerbread Granola by Five Heart Home
- Homemade Pancake Mix by Skip to My Lou
- Banana Bread Jars by One Sweet Mess
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Lentils are a very healthy legume that are packed with nutrients and vitamins. They’re a great source of plant-based protein in addition to being high in iron, fibre, zinc and manganese.
No, there’s no need to soak the lentils first. Just layer them into a glass jar and when you’re ready to cook, simmer them in a pot alongside the rest of your ingredients.
This lentil soup in a jar is a great holiday gift idea – but there are so many other things you can do when it comes to mason jar Christmas gifts. Some of my favourite ideas include homemade pancake mix, gingerbread granola, s’mores in a jar and more!
Storing and reheating
You can store leftover cooked soup in the fridge for up to 5 days in glass bowls, or even add the leftovers back into your glass jars! Simply reheat the soup in the microwave for 2 minutes or so or in a pot on the stovetop.
Can you freeze lentil soup?
Yes! This easy lentil soup is totally freezer-friendly after it’s been cooked. Whip up a giant batch, then store the soup in individual serving-size glass containers and freeze it for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your soup, all you have to do is pop a serving in the microwave for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally throughout.
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More mason jar soup recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- These are the mason jars I used in this recipe.
- You can get larger 32oz mason jars too!
- These colourful mason jar lids are so fun and perfect if you lose your lids.
Lentil Soup in a Jar {Mason Jar Gift Ideas}
Ingredients
Dry Soup Mix
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion flakes
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 bouillon cube (chicken or vegetable)
Soup add ons
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cups boiling water (for bouillon cube)
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup chopped baby spinach
Instructions
Assemble the gift
- Using 8oz mason jars, add 1/2 cup lentils, then all the spices. Add the remaining 1/2 cup lentils. Add lid and set aside or give as a gift along with a can of coconut milk.
Turn it into a full meal
- In a large pot, melt butter over med-high heat. Add carrots and celery, sauteing for 7-8 minutes until veggies are softened. Mix bouillon cube from jar with 2 cups boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add broth and coconut milk to the pot with veggies, bringing to a boil.
- Add lentil soup mix and simmer for 20 minutes until lentils are fully cooked. Remove from heat and stir in spinach. Serve and enjoy! Soup also freezes well! Add to glass bowls, freeze up to 3 months, and reheat in the microwave for 6-7 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Comments & Reviews
Allison says
Could you use frozen spinach with this recipe?
Taylor Stinson says
Yes you could!
Julia says
THank you for this delicious recipe!
How much broth do I need to add?
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Julia – please see the “soup add ons” header and the corresponding “turn it into a full meal” header to see how to make the soup afterwards. You take the bouillon cube out of the jar and dissolve it in two cups of water (that is your broth). You also need to add one can of coconut milk. In a pinch, you could double up on the water and add another bouillon cube to make 4 cups of broth instead of using the coconut milk.
Terie says
Does this recipe make a single serving or is it enough for two people?
Taylor Stinson says
There are 4 servings per jar!
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long after cooked?
Taylor Stinson says
It should keep for 4-5 days in the fridge once it’s been cooked!
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a fun gift to make for friends or to prep for yourself!
Dawn says
How big of a can of coconut milk?
Taylor Stinson says
A 13oz/400mL can
Emma Wood says
Best lentil soup EVER
Taylor Stinson says
Thanks Emma! Happy you enjoyed 🙂
Meredith | Earth & Oven says
I loooove this idea for a gift! Around this time of year everyone is too busy to cook and needing something healthy and cozy for dins! -Mere