Cicada Variant Comfort Soup

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

A soothing, nutrient-packed soup featuring garden vegetables and a hint of citrus to support immunity, inspired by seasonal health awareness. This comfort food-inspired soups ready in about 40 minutes pairs stalks, finely chopped celery, medium, minced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 medium, peeled and diced into 1/4-inch cubes carrots
• 2 stalks, finely chopped celery
• 1 medium, minced onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups, stemmed and chopped kale
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 medium minced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
2. Step 2: Add 2 medium peeled and diced carrots, 2 stalks finely chopped celery, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften and garlic is golden, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
3. Step 3: Pour in 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, add 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 minutes until carrots are tender.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 cups chopped kale and 1 tsp lemon zest. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes until kale wilts and turns vibrant green, stirring occasionally.