Freezer Soup
A thick vegetable and lentil soup simmered for 35 minutes, cooled and frozen in portions. Eight servings in 50 minutes.
Make Ahead and Storage
Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen over low heat until steaming hot.
Making Freezer Soup
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Heat the oil and fry the onions, carrots and celery for 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin for 1 minute.
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Add the lentils, tomatoes, stock and salt and simmer for 35 minutes, until the lentils are soft.
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Cool quickly, ladle into tubs and freeze.
Tips for Success
- Leave out potatoes and pasta.
- Cool the soup fast before freezing.
- Leave room in the tubs.
- Label every tub.
Why the Method Is What It Is
Soup freezes better than almost anything, and a big pot is cheaper per bowl than a small one. Cook once, and lunch is sorted for weeks.
Choose ingredients that survive freezing. Carrots, onions, celery, lentils and tomatoes are all fine. Potatoes can go grainy and pasta swells to mush, so leave both out and add them fresh when you reheat.
Simmer for 35 minutes, until the lentils are soft and the vegetables are tender. Cool the soup quickly by standing the pot in a sink of cold water, then ladle into tubs and freeze.
Leave a gap at the top, since soup expands as it freezes. Label each tub, because by month two nobody remembers what is in it. Reheat from frozen in a covered pan over low heat, or thaw in the fridge overnight. Loosen with a splash of water and taste for salt. Stir in a spoonful of lemon juice and a handful of chopped herbs when reheating to freshen the flavour.
Serving Ideas
Crusty bread · Grated cheddar · Toast · Yoghurt
Ingredient Swaps
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
Questions About Freezer Soup
How long does Freezer Soup take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Freezer Soup?
Leave out potatoes and pasta. Cool the soup fast before freezing. Leave room in the tubs. Label every tub.
What should I serve with Freezer Soup?
Crusty bread; Grated cheddar; Toast; Yoghurt.
Can Freezer Soup be made ahead or frozen?
Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen over low heat until steaming hot.
Is Freezer Soup suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
The Numbers per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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