A Jar of Comfort – Spiced Lentil Mix (with Three Easy Meal Ideas)

🫙Life gets busy—even for grown-up kids! My daughter came home late from work one evening, hungry and tired, and didn’t feel like cooking a whole meal or getting takeaways. She remembered one of these lentil jars I’d given her, popped it in a pot with a tin of tomatoes—and just like that, dinner was sorted.

She messaged me straight after:
“Mum, that soup was so good – healthy and hearty, and I didn’t have to think!”

I first spotted this sort of meal prep idea floating around on the interweb —people layering dry soup mixes in jars, great idea. But of course, I couldn’t help adding my own twist using the spices I like. A bit of turmeric, a pinch of cinnamon, some coriander and cumin… It turned out beautifully warming and fragrant. Very comforting.

These jars are full of red lentils and gentle warming spices. They’re a great way to have a healthy meal on standby. Just add pantry staples like tinned tomatoes or water and simmer. Done in about 30 minutes, and cheaper (and tastier!) than most takeaways.

Three ways to cook:

• Moroccan-style soup – Add a can of tomatoes, water, and simmer. Blend or leave chunky.
• Indian dhal – Just add water and cook until creamy. Add a little butter or yoghurt if you like.
• Sambar – Add vegetables to make a hearty vegetable curry, delicious over rice or with naan bread. Potatoes, eggplant, carrots and peas all work well.

I keep a few of these jars in the pantry now, and they also make thoughtful little gifts.

These jars are:

• Budget-friendly
• Nutritious and high in fibre
• No preservatives or weird ingredients
• Very easy – just tip into a pot and cook
• Good for lunch or dinner
• Can be made ahead
• Keep on the shelf for months
• You know your kid is eating right

Give them a try – I’d love to hear how you go with them too.🫙💛

Recipe Card

To print the recipe, simply click the ‘Print’ button below and save your PDF for easy reference!
🌿🥣🫙✨💛🕌🍛🌿🥣🫙✨💛

Spiced Lentil Pantry Jars – Moroccan Soup, Indian Dhal, Sambar

• Servings: 6 jars
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Print

Make-ahead lentil jars full of warm spices – just add pantry staples for a comforting Moroccan-style soup or Indian dhal. Handy, healthy, and budget-friendly.

𝗧𝗶𝗽: These jars make lovely gifts! Add a handwritten label with cooking instructions and tie on a ribbon. A thoughtful homemade present.

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Red lentils are high in fibre and protein, and low in fat. A wonderful staple for senior-friendly meals – easy to digest and gentle on the tummy.

Ingredients

• 3½ cups red lentils, rinsed and dried (divide evenly into 6 x 300ml jars)
𝗧𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗷𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗱:
• 1 bay leaf
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds (black or white)
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Assemble the Jars: Add approximately ½ cup of red lentils to each clean, dry 300ml jar. Tap gently to level the lentils.
2. Add the Spices: Add the bay leaf and all remaining spices to each jar. You can layer them for a decorative look or mix them all in—your choice.
3. Seal and Label: Seal the jars tightly and label with contents and a use-by date (best used within 6 months).
4. To Make Moroccan-Style Soup: Empty one jar into a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 chopped onion (optional), 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes, and 3 cups of water. Simmer for 25–30 minutes until lentils are soft. Add more water if needed. Blend for a smooth soup or leave chunky.
5. To Make Indian Dhal: Tip contents into a pot with 1 chopped onion and 3 cups of water. Simmer for 25–30 minutes until thick and creamy. Stir in a knob of butter or a spoonful of yoghurt for richness. Adjust salt or chili to taste.
6. To Make Sambar: Prepare as for dhal, then add vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, carrots, or peas. Optionally, fry onions until golden with garlic and stir into the sambar after cooking.
7. Serve: Enjoy with flatbread, naan, or rice. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of fresh coriander.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 210 calories; 3 g fat; 32 g carbohydrates; 13 g protein; 9 g fibre.

📌 Don’t lose it — Pin it! Save this recipe to Pinterest or share it with a friend so you can find it again. ♡ Janet