Homemade Lentil Barley Soup Mix in a Jar: The Perfect Heartwarming Gift
Discover how to craft a truly unique and deeply heartwarming gift with this incredibly easy lentil barley soup mix. With just a few basic pantry staples, a charming jar, and our beautiful printable tags for perfect presentation, you can create a thoughtful present that speaks volumes. This homemade soup mix is ideal for any occasion when friends and family would cherish a comforting, homemade meal – be it for holidays, as a hostess gift, to celebrate a new baby, or simply “just because.” For those with dietary needs, a gluten-free option is readily available: simply substitute brown rice for the barley, and we’ve even provided a “Lentil Rice Soup” tag option!
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Are you searching for a unique, delicious, and budget-friendly food gift that truly stands out? Look no further! This simple lentil barley soup mix in a jar is the ideal present for the culinary enthusiast in your life, or anyone who would deeply appreciate a night where dinner is effortlessly taken care of (and yes, my hand is enthusiastically raised at that thought!).
You’ll love how incredibly straightforward and economical this mix is to assemble, utilizing common pantry ingredients you likely already have on hand. The recipient, in turn, will be grateful for a wholesome, comforting meal that only requires adding water to prepare. Plus, we offer versatile options for incorporating fresh vegetables and cooked meat, allowing them to customize their soup to perfection.
What makes this gift even more special is its adaptability. With easy substitutions detailed below, you can readily adjust the mix to cater to gluten-free diets, vegans, and those following plant-based lifestyles. This ensures your thoughtful gift can be enjoyed by almost anyone.
In a world often filled with sugary treats, offering a healthy and nourishing food gift is a wonderful gesture. Especially during the bustling holiday season, or when you wish to extend the blessing of a warm meal to a family that could truly use it, this lentil barley soup mix is a gift from the heart.
A Brilliant Idea: Keep Some for Yourself! Don’t just make these charming jars for others; whip up a couple of extra jars for your own pantry shelf! They are absolutely perfect for those hectic winter evenings when you need a quick, wholesome meal without fuss. Imagine the comfort of knowing you have a nutritious dinner solution ready in minutes. They’re also a lifesaver if you experience a power outage – simply heat with water and enjoy as-is, or enhance it with a can of cooked chicken for added protein and flavor.
Elevate your gift-giving by pairing a jar of this delightful soup mix with an equally easy bread mix. Imagine the joy of a complete, homemade meal! Our rosemary focaccia or whole wheat beer bread mixes are fantastic, effortless options that complement the soup perfectly. This combination transforms a simple gift into a thoughtful culinary experience.
Below, you’ll find all the comprehensive instructions for assembling this unique gift-in-a-jar. We also provide free printable instruction tags to tie onto your beautifully layered jars, along with mouth-watering photos showcasing what the finished soup looks like. Get ready to impress with your thoughtful, homemade touch!
While detailed quantities and instructions for the lentil barley soup mix are meticulously outlined in the full recipe box below, here are some invaluable extra tips specifically for gifting and printing your custom tags:
Ingredients & Substitutions for Your Homemade Soup Mix
Crafting these beautiful and practical soup mix jars is simpler than you think. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to prepare two jars, along with helpful notes on substitutions to fit various dietary needs and preferences:
- 2 pint-size (16 ounce) jars: These standard mason-type jars are perfect for this mix. While a pint may seem small, both barley and lentils expand significantly when cooked, so one jar of mix will generously yield approximately 6 servings of hearty soup! You can opt for classic regular mason jars or explore jars with fun, decorative shapes to add an extra touch of charm to your gift.
- Pearled barley: This ingredient adds a wonderful chewy texture and boasts considerable nutritional value, even after being hulled (refer to our FAQs for more insights on this). It’s important to note that barley contains gluten. If you’re preparing the mix for someone on a gluten-free diet, a direct and excellent substitution is an equal amount of brown rice. Avoid white rice, as its quicker cooking time won’t match the lentils.
- Brown lentils: A true powerhouse of nutrition, these legumes are packed with protein and fiber. A key advantage of brown lentils is that they do not require pre-soaking, making them an ideal choice for a convenient soup mix like this. Should you prefer a different variety, select one that shares a similar cooking time with brown lentils, such as black lentils or the gourmet lentils de Puy.
- Dry chicken bouillon: Incorporating dry bouillon ensures the soup mix only requires water for preparation, eliminating the need for separate chicken broth. However, many standard dry bouillons or cubes can contain undesirable artificial ingredients. After extensive research, we recommend seeking out healthier dried broth options, such as this highly-rated choice or this alternative with additional seasonings. For vegan or plant-based recipients, a plant-based chicken-flavored dried bouillon or a quality vegetable bouillon are excellent options – just remember to always scrutinize the ingredient list.
- Dried minced onion: These tiny powerhouses rehydrate beautifully in the soup, providing a sweet, savory depth of flavor without the tears or chopping of fresh onions. They are essential for a well-rounded taste.
- Dried tomatoes (not in oil): Sun-dried or oven-dried tomatoes add a lovely tangy sweetness and umami richness to the soup. If you’re lucky enough to have home-dried tomatoes (and haven’t stored them in olive oil), they are perfect for this mix. Ensure they are completely dry to prevent spoilage in the jar.
- Seasonings: Our carefully selected blend includes basil, oregano, rosemary, garlic powder (for which we highly recommend granulated garlic for its superior flavor and texture), and black pepper. These herbs and spices come together to create a classic, comforting aroma and taste profile. If you know the taste preferences of your gift recipient, a dash of crushed red pepper flakes can be added for a gentle warming kick to the soup.
- Printed labels: Our free printable labels (found below) are designed to add a professional and informative touch to your gift.
- Twine or ribbon: Essential for elegantly attaching the instruction tags to the neck of your jars, completing the beautiful presentation.
How to Assemble Your Lentil Barley Soup Mix Jar Gift
Creating these attractive and functional soup mix jars is a delight. The key to their visual appeal lies in carefully layering the ingredients. Follow these simple steps to assemble your beautiful jar gifts:
First, in a small bowl, thoroughly mix all the seasonings together. This ensures even distribution of flavor throughout the soup. Then, take half of the measured quantity for each of the remaining dry ingredients and carefully layer them into each jar in the specified order:
- Lentils: Start with the densest ingredient at the bottom.
- Barley: Create the next distinct layer.
- Dry Bouillon: This layer adds a concentrated burst of savory flavor.
- Dried Onions: Their light color provides a nice contrast.
- Dried Tomatoes: The vibrant red adds a pop of color and rich flavor.
- Seasonings: Finally, sprinkle half of your mixed seasonings on top, ensuring they are ready to infuse the soup with aroma.
PRO TIP: To make the layering process incredibly easy and mess-free, we highly recommend using a large canning funnel. This tool will ensure all ingredients neatly fall into the jar without spilling.
Once your jars are beautifully layered, seal them securely with lids. Now for the finishing touch: print out our charming instruction tags and attach them to the neck of each jar using a pretty piece of twine or ribbon. Your homemade gift is now ready to impress!
Free Printable Tags for Your Soup Mix Jars
Our specially designed printable tags not only add a professional and thoughtful touch to your gift but also provide all the necessary cooking instructions for the recipient. To ensure maximum usability for different dietary variations, the printable page includes four tags for the original lentil barley soup mix and four tags for the lentil brown rice (gluten-free) variation. Additionally, you’ll find a simple “dried bouillon” ingredient listed, giving your recipient the freedom to use chicken, vegetable, or any other type of dried bouillon they prefer.
To access and download these beautiful tags, simply click on the image of the tags below. This will open the PDF in a new window, allowing you to easily download it to your computer. (Alternatively, you can click here to open the file directly.)
How to Print and Neatly Cut Out Your Tags
Follow these steps for the best results when preparing your tags:
- The printable PDF contains two pages. Each tag has the soup mix name on the front, including a “to and from” area, and detailed cooking directions on the back. For a professional look, print these pages back-to-back.
- For optimal durability and a premium feel, use a heavyweight paper or a light cardstock. This will ensure your tags withstand handling and look fantastic.
- Once printed, use scissors to carefully cut out each tag along the designated lines. Then, use a standard hole punch to create a neat hole in an upper corner of each tag.
- Thread your chosen twine or ribbon through the punched hole and tie the tag securely around the top of the jar. This adds a charming, rustic touch.
- Don’t worry if you notice that the front and back of the tags don’t align absolutely perfectly after printing and cutting. Once tied to the jar, this minor discrepancy will be unnoticeable and won’t detract from your thoughtful presentation.
- EXTRA TIP: For practical storage and to help your recipient keep track, add the date the mix was made on the back of the tag. This way, they’ll know its freshness and when to best enjoy it.
How to Prepare the Delicious Soup from Your Mix
The beauty of this gift-in-a-jar is how incredibly simple it makes preparing a nourishing, homemade meal. Here’s how your recipient can transform the dry mix into a steaming, flavorful soup:
To begin, pour the entire contents of one jar into a 3 or 4-quart pot. It’s common for the dried bouillon and minced onions to have settled and hardened slightly at the bottom of the jar; if this happens, simply use a spoon to gently mix and loosen them before adding to the pot.
Next, add 6 cups of water. This is the base for your rich broth. For an enhanced flavor and nutritional boost, add sliced carrots (or any other desired chopped vegetables like celery, bell peppers, or zucchini). If a heartier soup is preferred, cooked chicken or sausage can also be added at this stage.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 35 to 40 minutes. The soup is ready when the barley (or brown rice, if using the gluten-free variation) and lentils are tender and fully cooked. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Voila! It’s that easy to create a delicious, wholesome meal from your thoughtful gift. Imagine the comfort and satisfaction of having this ready and waiting for a cold evening, a busy weeknight, or any time you need a warm, nourishing dish. It truly is the gift of convenience and comfort, making meal prep a breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lentil Barley Soup Mix
Absolutely! Both lentils and barley are nutritional powerhouses. Lentils are renowned for being rich in dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and a variety of beneficial antioxidants. They contribute significantly to heart health and digestive wellness. While pearled barley does contain gluten, it remains an excellent source of protein, healthy lipids, and a wide array of essential vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, barley is packed with antioxidants and possesses notable anti-inflammatory characteristics, making it a very healthy grain choice (source). This soup mix offers a truly nourishing and wholesome meal.
If you were preparing a soup from scratch at home, you could certainly use hulled barley, which is the whole grain and retains even more fiber and nutrients than pearled barley. However, hulled barley typically requires pre-soaking for several hours before cooking and has a significantly longer cooking time (around 40-45 minutes to become tender). For this reason, hulled barley is not suitable for this gift-in-a-jar mix, as it would disrupt the convenience factor and the unified cooking time with the lentils. Pearled barley, despite being refined, is still considered one of the most nutritious refined grains available, offering ample fiber and nutrients even after the hulling process.
Brown rice is a fantastic and perfect substitute for barley in this recipe if you need to make the soup mix gluten-free. It shares a similar hearty, slightly nutty flavor profile and, crucially, requires a comparable cooking time to the lentils. This ensures that the entire mix cooks evenly to a tender perfection. We’ve thoughtfully included this option in our printable tags, so you can easily label your gluten-free gifts accordingly.
More Inspiring and Inexpensive Jar Gift Ideas
If you’ve enjoyed creating this thoughtful lentil barley soup mix and are looking for more brilliant gift-in-a-jar recipes, you’re in luck! There are so many wonderful ways to package homemade goodness. Here are a few of our absolute favorite and most popular mixes that make fantastic, budget-friendly gifts:
- Whole Wheat Beer Bread Mix (With or Without Alcohol): A versatile and incredibly tasty bread mix that’s a joy to bake and even better to eat.
- Rosemary Focaccia Bread: Handmade Gift In A Jar: Elevate any meal with this aromatic and savory focaccia mix.
- Red Beans And Rice Gift In A Jar: A hearty, comforting, and flavorful meal that’s perfect for any occasion.
- Cranberry Nut Muffin Mix Jar Gift with Printable Tags: A delightful breakfast or snack option, complete with lovely tags.
- Peppermint Fudge Brownie Mix Jar Gift (+ Double Fudge Variation): For those with a sweet tooth, this indulgent brownie mix is a guaranteed hit!
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Easy Lentil Barley Soup Mix Recipe
Equipment
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2 pint (16 ounce) jars with lids
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large canning funnel (highly recommended for easy layering)
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printed out labels from our free printable
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scissors and ribbon or twine for attaching tags
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small bowl for mixing seasonings
Ingredients
For Two Jars:
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed for better flavor release
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional, for a little heat
- 1 cup brown lentils
- 1 cup pearl barley or brown rice for gluten-free diets*
- 1/2 cup instant chicken bouillon or high-quality dried stock**
- 1/3 cup dried minced onion
- 1/2 cup chopped dried tomatoes
To Add Later (When Making Soup):
- 6 cups water
- 3 carrots, sliced (or other preferred vegetables)
- optional chopped vegetables: such as cabbage, cauliflower florets, kale (add at the end of cooking), or spinach (stir in just before serving)
- 1½ cups cooked chicken or cooked sausage, optional, for a heartier meal
- salt to taste (adjust based on the saltiness of your chosen bouillon)
Instructions
For Assembling the Jars:
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In a small, separate bowl, combine all the seasonings (from dried basil through the optional red pepper flakes). Stir well to ensure they are thoroughly mixed.
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Carefully layer HALF of the remaining dry ingredients into each pint jar in the following order: First, add the lentils (1/2 cup), followed by the pearl barley (1/2 cup), then the dry bouillon (1/4 cup), dried minced onion (approximately half of the 1/3 cup, eyeball this), and finally, the chopped dried tomatoes (1/4 cup). Top each jar with exactly half of the pre-mixed seasonings from your small bowl.
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Once all ingredients are layered, secure the jars tightly with their lids. Print out the beautiful labels from our free printable, carefully cut them out, and attach one to each jar. Don’t forget to fill out the “to and from” section on the tag to personalize your gift! Tie the labels charmingly with twine or a festive ribbon. PRO TIP: For future reference and optimal enjoyment, write the date the mix was prepared on the back of the label.
To Make the Soup Later (Recipient Instructions):
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Pour the entire contents of one jar into a substantial 3 or 4-quart pot. Note that the dry stock and onions may have settled and slightly hardened during storage; if so, use a spoon to gently break them apart and mix everything together before adding liquid.
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Add 6 cups of fresh water to the pot. At this stage, you can also add sliced carrots (or any other desired chopped fresh or frozen vegetables) and cooked chicken or sausage if you wish to make a heartier, more complete meal.
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Bring the soup mixture to a vigorous boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover the pot, and cook for approximately 35 to 40 minutes. The soup is perfectly ready when the barley (or rice) and lentils are completely tender. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
**For Vegan or Plant-Based Diets: To make this soup mix suitable for vegan or plant-based diets, ensure you use a high-quality plant-based chicken-flavored dry stock or a dried vegetable stock. Always check the ingredient list of your chosen bouillon carefully.
Storage: Properly sealed jars of this dry soup mix can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for approximately 8 to 12 months. Ensure the jars are airtight to maintain freshness.