When I made this dish, I was cleaning out my fridge and had no intention of doing a recipe for the blog but it turned out to be so delicious I had to grab my camera before chowing down. I would call this `Cleaning Out The Fridge and Save a Bunch of Money Soup` but then no one would be able to find it on Google and heaven knows we have to pay attention to our search engine optimization!
I found bits and pieces of tomatoes, carrots, pasta, onions, celery, red peppers, leftover chicken and some fresh herbs in the fridge and I remembered that I had recently purchased some soup mix that I used in this recipe last January when I was doing a budget series. It contains dried barley, green split peas, green whole peas, yellow whole peas, black beans, romano beans, brown lentils, yellow split peas, and red lentils. Now if I had remembered about the barley, I wouldn`t have tossed in the pasta as well, but heck, it sure tasted good!
I would love to say that I made the pesto but I bought it on sale just before Christmas. They were selling them at 2 jars for $1.00 so I picked up a few and then realized when I got home that they expire on January 15th! Oh well, it was worth it for this deliciously different soup.
I have a Chicken and Spinach Soup with Pesto (another recipe where I need to re-take the photos, lol) that I make with pesto and I find that it adds an unexpected depth to the soup and you find yourself craving more each time you have it.
One of the great things about eating healthy is that there is an endless number of soups, salads and snacks you can create when you have fresh produce in your fridge. Take some time and really look at what`s in there and let your imagination go wild. I`d love to hear what you have created with leftovers. I`ll definitely be making chicken vegetable soup again.
There were really no measurements to this recipe as I just tossed whatever I found into the pot but you can follow THIS one for guidelines to your own delectable creation. Cheers!
22 Comments
Christin @ Blue Crab Martini
January 7, 2015 at 6:23 pmYou had me at PESTO! Yum! This looks right up my alley. I would love a bowl right on on this frigid 11 degree Maryland night. We’re also having a “clean out the fridge” meal tonight! My hubby made a chili out of the random things we could find and it turned out great! I pinned your recipe and can’t wait to give it a try!
Christin @ Blue Crab Martini recently posted…#EatLean2015 Day 5: Fig & Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Robyn
January 7, 2015 at 6:38 pmThose are the best meals, aren`t they, Christin! I can hardly wait to make this again and I think I’ll add some zucchini next time.
Thanks for the pin! 🙂
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Debbie Harris
January 7, 2015 at 11:16 pmThat photo of your soup is so good I could reach into the computer with my spoon and enjoy myself.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE soups, but my sweet husband not so much. He will eat it, just don’t serve it often. 🙂
It seems like those meals we make using what needs to go from the fridge turn out quite wonderful.
I love to stir fry any and every vegetable together to clean out my fridge.
Have a beautiful week.
Debbie
Robyn
January 8, 2015 at 7:30 amThanks so much, Debbie! I love soups too and could eat them every day all year round. Plus – they’re easy to make! Stir-fry is such a great way to use up veggies! I used to do that all the time – thanks for the reminder 🙂
Have a great day, my daffy friend!
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Stephanie
January 7, 2015 at 11:37 pmI have noticed that a lot of times when one cleans out the refrigerator and makes something with the leftovers that it ends up being one of the best meals. Many times I have thrown what was in the fridge into a pot on the stove to create…..something and my husband raves about 🙂 But then when he asks for it again I can never remember what all was in the pot….
Thanks for sharing, sweet friend. Your soup looks amazing! Hugs to you!
Stephanie recently posted…Roses Of Inspiration Linkup #1
Robyn
January 8, 2015 at 7:25 amI agree, Stephanie, there’s something ‘extra’ comforting about leftovers! I need to do it more often. I’m with you – I don’t write things down unless it’s for the blog and then have no idea later how I made it, lol.
Thanks so much for your visit! Hugs!
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Bam's Kitchen
January 8, 2015 at 2:49 amThis looks like an amazing hearty and delicious soup and your photos makes me want to dive right in. Great list of veggies and lentil and herbs. You know we also have the clean out the refrigerator protocols and if it does not go in fried rice , it is hitting the soup! I love the idea of adding the pesto for added richness and flavor. I bet this was even better the second day… sharing all over… Wishing you a super 2015 start. Do you have your bags packed yet?
Bam’s Kitchen recently posted…Baked Chinese Spring Rolls
Robyn
January 8, 2015 at 7:22 amThanks so much, Bobbi. I’m a big fan of leftovers in fried rice as well – so delicious! Thanks for the shares 🙂
I cannot wait! lol
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Anita Rivera
January 8, 2015 at 5:38 amAh….now THIS is a grand idea! And we need more and more soup ideas here because WE ARE IN A DEEP FREEZE! This is yet another winner, Robyn! Have a warm and lovely day. Off now to work and brave that silly cold! Anita
Robyn
January 8, 2015 at 7:21 amI definitely have more soup recipes planned, Anita. Soups, stews and chilis are the only thing I want to eat these days, lol.
Dress warmly. It’s -30 C here today so I’m guessing it’s just as cold where you are!
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
karen
January 8, 2015 at 9:16 amwow…sun dried tomato…so going to try this next time I make soup…thanks!
karen recently posted…Mommy and Dino’s Real Food Meals
Robyn
January 8, 2015 at 11:35 amMost welcome, Karen. I was just in one of those moods to toss everything in there and this was a happy accident, lol. Thanks for visiting!
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods
January 8, 2015 at 9:57 amHappy New Year Robyn! This soup looks so delicious! With our crazy weather, I am always in the mood for soup. I love how you can use up all your odds and ends with this recipe. 😀
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods recently posted…Skillet Enchilada Dinner
Robyn
January 8, 2015 at 11:38 amI’m with you, Cindy, I want soup all the time. Happy New Year to you as well! I’m off to check your latest recipe – you are the queen of skillet dinners!
Robyn recently posted…Chicken Vegetable Soup with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
January 10, 2015 at 1:22 pmThat soup looks delicious. Some of my favorite meals are “leftover” meals.
Funny about the pesto! I bet it will be good for a while longer though–
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine recently posted…Top 10 Recipes of 2014
Robyn
January 11, 2015 at 7:41 amThanks so much, Michelle. I love leftovers, too, and I think I just have to make the effort to stop and think about the possibilities more often.
I just recently read an article about expiry dates on products and I’m going to write a post on it. The dates are quite misleading so you’re right – I can probably get some more time on these 🙂
Marla
January 11, 2015 at 3:24 pmHi Robyn,
Leftovers can make great meals and you certainly accomplished that here. Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & Twitted.
Marla recently posted…Real Food Fridays #70 – Healthy Living
Miz Helen
January 11, 2015 at 3:28 pmI would love to have a bowl of this flavorful soup right now, it is really cold here. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
cheri
January 12, 2015 at 5:30 pmSometimes meals like this turn out to be the best, looks delicious Robyn!
cheri recently posted…Crunchy Cashew Sesame Cardamom Bars
mila furman
January 14, 2015 at 9:49 pmOH wow this looks sooooo good! Soup is my ultimate comfort food… and I know the addition of pesto just makes this fantastic! Thanks so much for linking this up with us over at #FoodieFridays!!!
mila furman recently posted…Tortelini en Brodo con Polpetti
Carol
January 14, 2015 at 11:33 pmMm mm that looks so delicious.
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