Thursday, July 7, 2022

Quick Red Lentil Summer Vegetable Soup


red lentil soup, vegan, zucchini, potatoes

Enjoy a garden fresh bowl of red lentil vegetable soup this summer.  I call this recipe a summer vegetable soup because takes advantage of local baby red potatoes and tender green zucchini are available fresh from local farmer's markets right now. 

Yes, I do love soup even in the summer, and this soup is light, quick and easy to make !!

The bonus is that it is vegan, gluten-free, dairy free, and kosher parve - perfect if you, a family member or guest has special eating needs.

 Local Farm Produce
Freshly dug small round potatoes and garden fresh summer zucchini have been in season at local farmer's market for about 2 weeks now, and I've bought them each week.

Potatoes, Vegetables, Nature, Fresh

Red potatoes(or small white) are the ideal potato to add to a light summer soup- and why not soup ? Who doesn't still eat hot food in the summer? 

Free photos of Summer

Fast and Easy
This recipe is one of my fast and easy soups that is assembled quickly and easily, cooked in the Instant Pot (although you could cook it on the stovetop if you don't mind heating up the kitchen), and makes a wonderful summer lunch or starter for dinner. 

 It's as easy as 1-2-3!! 

1. Put all the ingredients into the liner of the Instant Pot 
2. Set to pressure cook for 11 minutes
3. When done, release steam (according to manufacturers directions), open, and serve! 

Won't heat up your kitchen, no need to stir or watch it, no burning, no spilling, no mess! LOVE My Instant Pots !! 

Yes, the Instant Pot will take time to heat up before it begins cooking. Think of it as the same way you need to pre-heat an oven before baking in it! 

Stovetop: Add to pot and cook for 30-35 minutes covered until lentils are soft. Stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Zucchini, Vegetables, Garden Pumpkin

Light, yet filling, this brothy soup is an easy to digest satisfying soup. The red lentils dissolve into the soup and the zucchini and potatoes are soft and tender. It's a feel good comfort soup that is nourishing and delicious providing nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. 

No Soup In The Summer For You? 
If truly you don't like or won't eat hot soup in the summer, then I suggest you pin the recipe on Pinterest or tuck it away for the fall or winter. This recipe is so easy and delicious, you will want to make it over and over again. Try a chilled carrot soup(link)instead if you don't like hot soup .

red lentil soup, vegan, zucchini, potato

Is Your Instant Pot Still Unused? Watch this Short Video to Get Started. 
 
If you have an Instant Pot and have not yet tried to use it, why not watch a Youtube to get you started. The Instant Pot is a wonderful tool that has a very quick learning curve and then it will be a joy to use once you become comfortable with it.  (I found this Youtube Video on How to get started with your Instant Pot that might be helpful)

Simply Nature Organic Thick & Chunky Mild Salsa
I buy this salsa from Aldi but you can use any salsa 

Author of Blog: Judee Algazi
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes (Instant Pot also needs additional time to pre-heat)
Serves: 6 bowls of soup 

**Stays in refrigerator for 5 days 
** I do not like to freeze soup that contains potatoes-

Ingredients: 

1 16 ounce jar of organic chunky salsa (mild, medium, or hot- your choice) ( I buy it at Aldi or Whole Foods sells an organic brand too)
6 cups of water
4 cups of tasty vegetable broth
3 cups of sliced zucchini 
6 small red potatoes, halved 
1 cup of red lentils, washed well
Optional: cracked black pepper or cumin (add to each bowl after soup is done) 

Directions: 

Add al the ingredients to the insert liner of a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot and stir. Secure the lid, close the steam valve, and set to pressure cook for 11 minutes. When done allow to sit for 5-10 minutes and then release the remaining stream manually according to the manufacturers directions. Enjoy!

Do you eat hot soup in the summer? 
Will you eat chilled soups?

white petaled flower 

MY NOTES: 
1. If you like cumin, I like to sometimes add cumin to my bowl before eating. It will change the taste of the soup but is really good.
2. Use an immersion blender to blend if you prefer a creamy thick soup. 
3. If you want a heartier more filling soup, add cooked brown rice before serving. 
4. If cooking in a pot on the stove top, cook for about 30-35  minutes covered.

It is a shame that we now have to consider the higher prices of food even when we cook at home. If we need to cut corners, it may be time to get frugal with our menus and high protein lentils and beans are good choices. 

                                                     Currency, Dollar Sign, Icon, Money

Let's get frugal. 
With the cost of groceries skyrocketing, why not consider some vegan dishes such as today's red lentil vegetable soup which is easy, healthy, frugal and convenient to make. This ingredients in this recipe contain protein, vegetables, nutrients, fiber, antioxidants, and is very low fat too. Eat with a salad and rice for a complete meal. 

High in nutrients; low in cost

Cost of Soup about: $9.50  serves 6 large bowls of filling soup

organic vegetable broth -$3 
jar of chunky organic salsa from Aldi  $2.50
6 medium organic round potatoes $ 1.50 
1 large organic summer zucchini $1.50
1 cup of red lentils- $ 1 

Joining and sharing on Weekend Cooking Linky (link) where any blogger can share a food related post. 


28 comments:

  1. I love to use cumin in my foods! So aromatic and good for us. Your soup sounds wonderful, Judee.

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    1. We usually add cumin to a lot of our foods. We love it .

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  2. What a great idea to use salsa in a soup! I’ve never tried it before, and I can see how it would add so much flavor. Those red potatoes look absolutely delicious. Such a great time of year at the Farmer’s market!

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    1. Yes, it really cuts down the work and the ingredients are all organic which I sometimes hard to find in the markets. The only draw back is the salt.

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  3. The only way I will eat lentils is in soup. Why won't you freeze soup that has potatoes in it?
    from Tandy I Lavender and Lime https://tandysinclair.com

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    1. I'm not a huge fan of brown lentils, but I seem to really enjoy the red ones.

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  4. Great comfort food to enjoy while the heat is on!

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    1. Yes, I find it a real comfort soup and love it.

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  5. Not only do I not eat soup in summer -- I never eat it at all! Weird, I know. I do like red potatoes and zucchini, though, so the flavors going on here sound good. Finally, the pics of the flowers are lovely and soothing. I love how the light's shining down in the last one. :)

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    1. I had a cousin who never ate soup- she just didn't like it.

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  6. I’m always trying to find new ways to use lentils so this sounds like a good start for me to make soup, but I prefer to have the zucchini crisp, so I would add it at the end of cooking.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Sounds like a plan that could work for you Mae.

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  7. Great idea to use the salsa in this. I love cumin, so I'd definitely use it. And we eat soup all year round.

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  8. I like chilled soup in the summer but not hot. Thanks for the video link for the instant pot. I plan to get one especially if I get more room in the kitchen (we might be moving!) ...

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  9. Fantastic! I love how the instant pot doesn't heat up the house. What a nice summer soup!

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  10. What a delicious soup!!....I love cumin and my instant pot too!.....all my lentils are done in my Instant Pot....easy, clean, and full of flavor!.......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  11. Delicious looking soup. I cook most of my lentils in instant pot but not this one. May be I should do it one of these days and make soup. Its wedding season and I need to eat more light meals at home.

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  12. I love the great idea of using salsa in a soup. Yummm!

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  13. What a delicious, cozy dinner idea... and such a perfect way to sneak more veggies into your day! I just love how frugal this is to make, too!

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  14. We do enjoy soups in the summer, mushroom soup is a favourite :)

    Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    All the best Jan

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  15. I'm not sure if that salsa is available in UK Aldi. It's a great idea to add to a soup.

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  16. I love soup! And lentils. I bet we have more lentil soup than any other kind. And summer, with its fresh, local veggies, is a great time to have soup. This looks terrific -- thanks.

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  17. This looks super easy and delicious. I have all of the ingredients, so this is on my list. Thanks very much, by the way, for leaving all of the interesting zucchini facts as a comment on my blog. Much appreciated!

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  18. yes red lentils make a great soup. our summers are a bit too hot and humid for soup but as it's a cold brisbane winter here atm this dish would go down well!

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  19. Love how easy and budget friendly your summer vegetable soup is. It's a celebration of all of the best vegetables and lentils in one delicious bowl.

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  20. So smart to use your Instant Pot for summer cooking! I love soup any time and don't make it often enough, this sounds like a great recipe!
    Jenna

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