Vibrant Lemon Herb Soup (Printable version)

Vibrant citrus soup with fresh herbs, vegetables, and aromatic Mediterranean flavors. Light and refreshing.

# Ingredients list:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced

→ Broth

06 - 5 cups vegetable broth, low sodium

→ Citrus & Herbs

07 - Zest of 1 lemon
08 - Juice of 2 lemons, approximately 6 tablespoons
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

→ Optional Components

13 - 1/2 cup cooked rice or orzo
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, approximately 3 minutes.
02 - Add minced garlic, diced carrots, and diced celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Pour vegetable broth into the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
04 - Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, dill, chives, and thyme. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - Add cooked rice or orzo if desired. Heat through for 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs and lemon slices if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in less than an hour, which means you can make it on a Tuesday night without stress.
  • The bright, herbaceous flavor profile feels elegant enough for guests but casual enough for your own quiet dinner.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost any dietary need without feeling like a compromise.
02 -
  • Add your lemon juice near the end of cooking, not at the beginning, because long simmering will mute its brightness and you'll lose that fresh, alive quality that makes this soup special.
  • Fresh herbs really do matter here, because dried herbs will make this taste like a different, flatter soup entirely.
03 -
  • Invest in a good microplane zester if you don't have one, because it makes zesting effortless and gives you finer, more fragrant zest than a box grater.
  • Room temperature lemon juice releases more flavor than cold juice, so let your lemons sit out for a few minutes before squeezing.
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