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This creamy vegan tomato basil soup is a delicious twist on the classic comfort food. The rich creaminess is so warming and the basil adds a depth of flavor that will keep you coming back for more. This easy vegan tomato soup is perfect to make in a big batch for the whole week, with some hearty bread for dipping!
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Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love this Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Soup Recipe!
- Ingredients for Vegan Tomato Soup
- How To Make Tomato Soup Vegan
- Toni’s Recipe Tips
- Variations on Vegan Tomato Basil Soup
- FAQs for Vegan Tomato Soup
- Serving Suggestions for Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- Storage Instructions for Vegan Tomato Soup
- More Creamy, Dreamy Vegetable Soups!
- Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
Why You’ll Love this Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Soup Recipe!
Creamy vegan tomato soup is hard to beat as a wholesome and comforting soup for easy lunches or as a starter for dinner. Full of flavor, this vegan tomato soup recipe is seasoned to perfection with fresh aromatics and herbs. Paired with its silky smooth creamy texture, from easy plant-based milk and cream, it’s just dreamy.
Kids (and adults of all ages!) love this recipe, either to sip on, slurp spoonfuls of, or dip crackers or hearty bread in. They won’t even know how many hidden veggies they’re eating! It’s chockful of fiber and immunity-boosting nutrients like vitamin C to keep you healthy and fuel your day. Plus, it’s easy to make a big batch for meal prep, so you can enjoy all week long as a nourishing lunch or a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients for Vegan Tomato Soup
With a handful of fresh veggies plus some pantry staples, these ingredients should be easily found in most grocery stores!
- Yellow onion: Use a sweet, white, or red onion to make creamy tomato basil soup.
- Vegan butter or oil: To cook the veggies. Vegan butter will have a bit more richness than oil while the oil is a bit less processed. Both options work well.
- Carrots: Sauteed at the start of cooking and adds some natural sweetness to the soup.
- Garlic: Fresh cloves add more flavor than using powder.
- Fresh tomatoes: I enjoy the flavor and juiciness of Roma or plum tomatoes for making soup. You can also opt for canned tomatoes to make it easier.
- Yellow or red bell pepper: Adds more depth of flavor than the tomatoes alone.
- Fresh basil: To make vegan tomato basil soup, fresh basil leaves are essential. Swapping with dried basil leaves simply doesn’t taste the same.
- Vegetable broth: You can also use water but I find using the broth makes a more flavorful soup.
- Plant-based milk: Use your favorite option but choose one that doesn’t have a strong flavor that may alter the taste of the soup.
- Plant-based cream: You can also use vegan cream cheese. It’s optional but it enhances the creaminess of the soup.
- Sugar: Just a touch to balance the acidity in the tomatoes.
- Smoked paprika: A bit of smokiness adds more umami flavor to the recipe.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Optional but adds a bit of spiciness to this easy tomato basil soup.
How To Make Tomato Soup Vegan
Step 1: Start by heating the vegan butter or oil in a large pot on medium heat. Then add the onions and carrots and saute for 8 to 10 minutes. While cooking, stir frequently to avoid burning or browning.
Step 2: Next, add the garlic, diced tomatoes, bell pepper, and basil, along with your seasonings and vegetable broth. Then stir until evenly combined. Once mixed, let everything cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to crack and soften up.
Step 3: When the tomatoes are cooked, add plant-based milk and cream. Stir until well combined.
Step 4: Then, use a blender, food processor, or immersion blender to puree soup until smooth, in batches if needed. Finally, return to the pot (if needed), and give it a taste. Adjust seasonings if desired and simmer for 5 minutes.
Toni’s Recipe Tips
- Serve hot: Vegan tomato basil soup is best served hot.
- Make it ‘cheesy’ tomato soup: Layer in some ‘cheesy’ flavor with a vegan cheese option or some nutritional yeast.
- Add some garnishes: Shredded vegan cheese, fresh basil leaves, or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper are simple garnishes to add to the top of your tomato basil soup.
Variations on Vegan Tomato Basil Soup
Want a heartier version of fresh tomato basil soup? Here are some of my favorite ingredients to add that make it more substantial or turn it into a main dish.
- Vegetables: Stir in cooked vegetables at the end for a chunky soup or you can add them before pureeing for a smoother soup. Some of my favorites are corn, spinach, cauliflower, and kale.
- Beans or lentils: Add cooked beans or lentils after pureeing the soup and heat until warmed through.
- Grains: Stir in cooked grains such as wheat berries, quinoa, or rice after pureeing and heat just until hot.
FAQs for Vegan Tomato Soup
The main ingredient of tomatoes provide tons of nutrients. It is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. It is also a major source of lycopene, an antioxidant that may help prevent chronic disease. Tomatoes also contain fiber and other antioxidants that are beneficial to the body.
Dairy-free tomato basil soup is made creamy by swapping milk or cream with just about any plant milk or cream. Also, skip any cheese in the soup and add layers of flavor using plant-based umami flavors such as miso, nutritional yeast, and vegetables, to give the soup flavor.
Heavy cream is what adds the thick, creamy texture to traditional creamy tomato basil soup. Some plant-based alternatives include coconut milk or cream, though it may add some sweetness and flavor to the soup, soft silken tofu, and vegan cream cheese.
Serving Suggestions for Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
While creamy tomato basil soup and vegan grilled cheese may be a match made in heaven, there are lots of other sides you can serve as well!
- Bread: Tomato soup is a dream with any fresh bread to dip in it. Try it with Homemade Sandwich Bread, Vegan Focaccia Bread, Vegan Garlic Bread, or Rolls.
- Corn Bread: Don’t forget Corn Bread or Muffins as a great side! Jalapeno Cornbread gives a spicy twist, too.
- Crackers: Serve with your favorite crackers, including these Rosemary Crackers.
- Sandwich: Make it a complete meal with a sandwich, like this savory Mushroom Sandwich, Tempeh Sandwich, or use leftover basil for this Pesto Tofu Sandwich for a match made in heaven!
- Salad: A salad with this tomato basil soup makes a perfectly refreshing lunch. Choose from your favorite chopped or Green Leafy Salads.
- Side: Serve at brunch or lunch with a Veggie Frittata or Vegan Quiche, a side of Spicy Roasted Cauliflower, or Sauteed Mushrooms!
Storage Instructions for Vegan Tomato Soup
Leftovers: Allow leftover tomato soup to fully cool prior to storing it to save for later. Store in individual servings or in a large batch, depending on how you you plan to use it. Store in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Reheat: To reheat the soup, return the soup to a pot and heat over medium heat until heated through. Alternatively, you can also reheat the soup in the microwave. Add water as desired if the soup is too thick.
Make ahead: Creamy tomato basil soup is perfect to make ahead and either refrigerate or freeze to use in the future. To save time, pack it up in individual servings so you can easily grab and pack in a lunch or meal on the go.
More Creamy, Dreamy Vegetable Soups!
Vegan Dinners
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Vegan Dinners
Creamy Vegan Broccoli Soup
Vegan Dinners
Creamy Potato Leek Soup
If you tried this creamy vegan tomato basil soup recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
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Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Soup
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Ingredients
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons of vegan butter or oil
- 3 carrots chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 6 medium tomatoes quartered
- 1 yellow or red bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup of fresh basil
- 1 ½ to 2 cups of vegetable broth
- ⅛ cup of plant-based milk
- 4 ounces of plant-based cream vegan cream cheese, optional
- ½ Tablespoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, saute your onions with vegan butter (or oil) and carrots for 8 to 10 minutes on medium heat, frequently stirring to avoid burning or browning.
- Add in your garlic, diced tomatoes, bell pepper, and basil, along with your seasonings and vegetable broth. Stir until evenly combined. Let everything cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to crack and soften up.
- Add in your plant-based milk and cream. Then, using a blender, food processor, or immersion blender, puree soup until smooth, in batches if needed. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Serve hot: Vegan tomato basil soup is best served hot.
- Make it ‘cheesy’: Layer in some ‘cheesy’ flavor with a vegan cheese option or some nutritional yeast.
- Add some garnishes: Shredded vegan cheese, strips of fresh basil or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper are simple garnishes to add to the top.
Wellll, I’ve been cooking for a long time. Even the color in the photo isn’t the same. I used very ripe tomatoes, and it came out a washed out pink. No flavor. It needs more salt. 1/2tsp for this size pot is not enough. Doesn’t taste like any Tomato Basil soup I’ve ever had Vegan or not.
Perfect summer recipe!
This recipe looks amazing! I cannot wait to try 😀
You’re going to love this one!
Such a comforting and soothing soup. Highly recommended!
Oh yes! Incredibly creamy and delicious!
This soup looks so yummy
It comes out so creamy every time!
Love how creamy this tomato soup is!!
Same! It comes out incredibly creamy and delicious!
Totally creamy and bright tasting soup
Gotta love a good creamy soup!
Yum! This tomato basil soup sounds delicious! Can’t wait to give it a try! Thanks for the idea!
Let us know what you think 🙂 We loved it!
Love that this is vegan. It turned out so delicious.
Nothing like a good vegan tomato soup! So glad you enjoyed it!
I always love to have a good soup in every meal, and this one is the best. Aside from that, it’s creamy!
Soup is always a winner!
This creamy vegan tomato basil soup was so delicious! I loved how easy it was to make!
Easy and delicious! So glad you enjoyed this one 🙂
Perfect tomato and basil soup! Love making this whenever I don’t feel like making a huge dinner! It’s filling and light at the same time!
It’s the best of all the worlds! So tasty, easy, and wholesome!
Such a delicious bowl of comfort food – great flavours!
Such great comfort food for sure! 🙂
Another great tomato soup to dip my grilled cheese into. Thanks!
The ultimate combo!!
So creamy!
so satisfying and really creamy ! love this tomato soup
Same! This homemade tomato soup is so good!
OOOHHHH! I love tomato soup but have never made it! This looks great, will try 🙂
You’re going to love this recipe! So easy to make and soooo delicious!