Bright Lemon Herb Soup (Printer-friendly)

Vibrant citrus soup with fresh herbs, vegetables, and bright lemon notes. Light, refreshing Mediterranean comfort.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 and 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 ½ teaspoon dried thyme

→ Finishing

13 - ½ cup cooked rice or gluten-free orzo, optional
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

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 in vegetable broth. 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 5 additional minutes.
05 - Add cooked rice or gluten-free orzo if using. Heat through for 2-3 minutes.
06 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs and lemon slices if desired.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, yet tastes like you've been simmering something thoughtful all afternoon.
  • The brightness of fresh lemon and herbs actually lifts your mood, not just your palate—something I notice every single time.
02 -
  • Don't add the lemon juice until the very end—boiling it for too long kills that bright, fresh quality that makes this soup special. I learned this by doing it wrong first.
  • Fresh herbs truly matter here more than in most recipes. They're not a nice-to-have; they're the reason people love this soup. If your herbs are tired or brown, the whole thing suffers.
03 -
  • Buy a microplane zester if you don't have one—it makes lemon zest fluffy and fine instead of chunky, and the difference is noticeable in every spoonful.
  • Keep extra lemon juice on hand at the table so people can brighten their own bowl if they like it more tart. Everyone's preference is different, and this soup is forgiving enough to bend that way.
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