This soup in a jar recipe is an easy, thoughtful way to share a hearty lentil curry soup mix anyone can make. The layered jar looks attractive, uses budget-friendly pantry ingredients, and makes a cozy, flavorful soup. It’s a practical homemade gift and a great pantry staple for busy days.
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I enjoy making and giving food gifts in jars and keeping jarred mixes on the shelf for quick meals. Most jar gift ideas you find are sweet treats, which are lovely, but don’t always provide a meal. This lentil curry soup in a jar fills that gap: a simple combination of lentils, dried tomatoes, and seasonings assembled into a pretty jar that will sit well in your pantry and cook into a comforting soup when you need it.
This mix also makes a meaningful gift for new parents, someone recovering, or a housewarming present. Pair it with a jarred bread mix and a tea towel tucked into a basket for a complete meal gift. It’s thoughtful, useful, and affordable—especially if you source extras like towels or baskets from discount or thrift stores.
Whether you’re gifting it or keeping it for yourself, this red and yellow lentil curry soup mix is low-waste, practical, and delicious.
Ingredients for jars
Note: exact quantities and full instructions are included in the recipe card below.
What you’ll need for the jarred mix and important notes:
- Red and yellow lentils: These split lentils create colorful layers and cook faster than brown or green varieties. If you can only find one color, use 2 cups of the same type, but don’t substitute brown or green lentils without increasing the cooking time.
- Dried tomatoes: Use fully dried tomatoes (not oil-packed). They need rehydrating during cooking. You can use dried tomato halves and chop them if needed.
- Seasonings: Curry powder (mild or hot to taste), turmeric, salt, and a dried chili pepper for optional heat.
Directions for Making Jar
- Add the lentils to a quart jar, alternating layers of red and yellow if using both.
- Add a layer of chopped dried tomatoes.
- Place the curry powder, turmeric, and salt in a small bag and close it.
- Top the tomato layer with the spice bag and the dried chili pepper.
- Seal the jar with a lid, attach a tag with ribbon or twine, and store until ready to cook or gift.
Download the Lentil Curry Soup in a Jar Tags
The printable tags include the soup name on the front and cooking instructions on the back. Download and print the PDF to attach to your jar.
How to Print & Cut Out Tags
- Print both pages of the PDF back to back so the name is on the front and the instructions are on the back.
- Use heavyweight paper or light cardstock for the best result.
- If the front and back don’t align perfectly, cut the front first along the lines, then trim the back as needed.
- Punch a hole in the corner and thread ribbon or twine through to attach the tag to the jar.
Ideas for Gifting
You can gift the jar by itself or assemble a little meal basket. Pairing ideas:
- A wooden spoon and tea towel.
- A loaf of homemade bread—yeast or sourdough—wrapped for gifting.
- Colorful soup bowls with lids for easy meal prep.
- A reusable basket or kraft box that can be used for storage afterward.
- Combine with another jarred mix—bread in a jar or a cookie mix—to make a full meal package.
If you try this, consider leaving a rating and review to share feedback.
Lentil Curry Soup In A Jar
Equipment
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1 quart glass jar
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tag and ribbon or twine
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large soup pot for cooking later
Ingredients
For Jar:
- 1 cup red lentils*
- 1 cup yellow lentils*
- 1/4 cup chopped dried tomatoes (not oil-packed)
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large dried chili pepper or two small dried peppers
To Add Later:
- 3 tablespoons butter or ghee
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 8 cups chicken broth or water
Instructions
To Make Jar:
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Add the lentils to a quart jar, alternating red and yellow layers if using both.
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Add a layer of chopped dried tomatoes.
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Place curry powder, turmeric, and salt into a small bag and seal with a twist tie.
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Add the spice bag and dried chili pepper on top, then seal the jar and attach a tag.
To Make Soup:
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In a 4-quart (or larger) pot, heat butter over medium. Add minced garlic and diced onion and sauté about 5 minutes until softened.
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Add the spice bag contents and the dried chili to the onion mixture and stir 1–2 minutes to bloom the spices.
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Add the lentils and dried tomatoes from the jar plus 8 cups of chicken broth or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook 30–45 minutes until lentils are tender.
Notes
Storage:
- Sealed jars of soup mix keep about 8–12 months.
- After cooking, refrigerate soup 4–5 days or freeze in 1-cup portions up to 6 months.
Nutrition
FAQs
No. The chili is optional and kept separate so the recipient can choose the heat level or omit it entirely.
Sealed jar mixes keep about 8–12 months. After cooking, refrigerate for 4–5 days or freeze portions up to 6 months.
Cost varies by where you buy lentils. Purchasing from bulk bins can be economical; in my example the jar cost was about $4.00.
Brown and green lentils take longer to cook, so if you use them increase cooking time by 20–30 minutes. For the jar instructions to match cooking time, use red or yellow split lentils.
More Inexpensive Food Mix Jars
- Rosemary Focaccia Bread In A Jar (+ Printable Tags)
- Oat & Whole Wheat Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix (+ Printable Tags)
- Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies in a Jar + Printable Tags
See the full collection of savory and sweet gifts in jars for more inspiration.
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