Juicy, plump tomatoes & aromatic fresh basil come together beautifully in this fresh & vibrant Easy Tomato Basil Soup which takes only ten minutes to make.
I try to concentrate more on the quality of the food I am putting into my body than worrying about how many calories it contains, but occasionally, especially after a weekend of trialling a new AMAZING Lemon Lavender Shortbread cookie recipe, I make an effort to cook a few lower calorie meals.
READY IN ONLY 10 MINUTES!
This Easy Tomato Basil Soup is for those times when I am feeling virtuous. It is so incredibly easy to make and takes only ten minutes to cook. The flavours are fresh and untainted. The only ingredients are tomatoes, onion, garlic and basil (plus a little oil and seasoning). Because it is cooked so quickly the amazing fresh flavour of the tomato is retained and the wonderful pungent flavour of the basil is conserved by adding it at the very last moment before serving.
The resulting soup is fresh, aromatic and incredibly healthy. No stock is added to this soup. The liquid comes only from the tomatoes which makes the flavour so much better. There are only about 280 calories in the entire pan and it is very low in fat. It can even be made totally fat free by omitting the olive oil and dry frying the onions and tomatoes. If you follow the Slimming World plan you will also be pleased to know that this soup is syn free (if you omit the oil).
FULL OF TOMATO GOODNESS
Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene which protects us from destructive free radicals which can harm cells and damage DNA. Cooking your tomatoes in a little healthy fat such as olive oil helps carry the lycopene into the bloodstream so that our bodies can benefit from it so I do recommend using a little oil as stated in the recipe if you can.
As well as being a good source of lycopene, tomatoes are full of many other vitamins and minerals. They are known to protect against heart disease, prostate cancer and asthma and they also help to ensure our bones, teeth, skin and hair stay healthy.
So you get all of those benefits and it’s so incredibly quick and easy to make. There really is no excuse not to eat a healthy meal when you can whip up something like this in such a short space of time.
TIPS FOR SERVING THIS EASY TOMATO BASIL SOUP
Serve this wonderful Easy Tomato Basil Soup with a drizzle of good olive oil and a sprinkle of cracked black pepper and make sure there is plenty of crusty bread available for dipping. It is wonderful with my Miracle No Knead Focaccia!
If soups are your thing now that the weather is cooling off then make sure you try my Creamy Curry Chickpea Soup too. It is seriously good and ready in less than 30 minutes.
Share your pictures with me on Instagram and Twitter. I love to see them! Â I am @avirtualvegan. Use the #avirtualvegan on Instagram so I don’t miss them. Also please leave comments below to let me know what you think.
Easy Tomato Basil Soup
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil optional
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 large cloves of garlic chopped very finely I like lots of garlic so used 4 but adjust to suit your tastes
- 7 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes see recipe notes
- 1 handful of basil leaves and stalks are fine
- 2 teaspoons salt adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- Heat a pan over a medium heat and add the oil.
- When hot add the onions and garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add the chopped tomatoes.
- Continue to cook over a medium heat, stirring every few minutes until the tomatoes have broken down and are soft.
- Remove from the heat and add basil and salt and pepper.
- Blitz in a blender or with a stick blender until smooth,
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
I have tried this recipe with large tomatoes and grape/cherry tomatoes and it works well with both, or even a mixture of the two.
Kathryn Grace says
This is SO like my own homemade tomato soup, and isn’t it delicious? Sometimes that’s all we have for supper–a nice bowl of homemade tomato soup and a couple of chunks of homemade sourdough bread. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
A Virtual Vegan says
You’re welcome Kathryn. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. And yes sourdough bread and tomato soup are perfect together!
Raber says
Good to know that cherry tomatos work too. That seems to be what I have the best luck growing!
A Virtual Vegan says
It will be even better with homegrown tomatoes!
Shelly says
Does this freeze well?
A Virtual Vegan says
I haven’t tried but I am pretty sure it would be fine.
Nutty Abs says
Your pictures look beautiful.
Interesting that you say you can use both cherry tomatoes as well as big ones… is there any different in taste? Is the cherry tomato soup seedier?
I’m about to whip up a creamy tomato soup with coconut milk! 🙂 Can’t wait.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you so much! The taste all depends on how good and sweet the tomatoes are. As long as they are tasty tomatoes (whether cherry or big ones) you will get great soup. As for seeds, the soup is blended up anyway so the seeds aren’t really an issue but if your blender isn’t fantastic and you’re concerned about seeds you could sieve it after. Personally a few stray seeds don’t bother me. Enjoy :O)
Kayla says
This recipe was awesome very clean very fresh tasting and my taste buds didn’t feel like it was bombarded. Great recipe and very simple
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks for stopping by to let me know Kayla. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. :O)
Kay says
The best homemade tomato soup ever! Thank you! So easy! I added
2 tablespoons of my homemade basil pesto! Super yum! Using up the last of my frozen tomatoes from last year.
A Virtual Vegan says
Wow thank you so much Kay! I am so glad you love the recipe. It’s funny you stopped by today as I got a whole pile of tomatoes from the green-grocer that are slightly past their best earlier and plan to make a big pot of this soup tomorrow. I can imagine how great your homemade basil pesto is with it. I might try that myself tomorrow. Thanks for the idea :O)
Patsy says
Does this freeze well?
A Virtual Vegan says
Hi Patsy, I have never needed to freeze it so don’t know for sure, but tomatoes tend to freeze really well so I am pretty sure it would be fine.
Debbie says
Yes. It was still just as good after being in the freezer for 5 months. I used home grown cherry tomatoes.
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s great! Thank you for letting me know. It’s a great way to preserve your crop for enjoying in the winter then!
Krystle says
Would canned tomatoes work? I haven’t got fresh and would really like to make this now
A Virtual Vegan says
Yes they would definitely work but the flavour won’t be as good as it would with fresh tomatoes. As long as you are ok with that then go for it. I would add a teaspoon or two of sugar as tinned tomatoes can be very slightly bitter. Taste it as you go though, you might get away without it . Enjoy!
Pipetka says
I made it for lunch for my family and they didn’t like it much.. But i loved it! Thanks for your amazing recipe ❤
A Virtual Vegan says
Really? I can’t believe they didn’t like it. The flavour is so wonderful in this soup (if you like tomatoes and basil that is!). It is one of the most popular recipes on my site and I haven’t had any negative feedback on it at all. I am so glad you enjoyed it though. At least you didn’t have to share! That’s always a good thing ;O)
mary says
do u not have to skin the tomatoes?
A Virtual Vegan says
No need to as by the time they’ve been through the blender you don’t Boyce them anyway. That’s what makes it so very easy!
Viv says
Such a good recipe! Tasty, easy and healthy. Thank you!
I did notice my soups came out spicy and I’m very confused as to why. I used only the ingredients listed. Any idea?
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Viv! I have no idea why your soup turned out a bit spicy. All I can think is that perhaps the garlic wasn’t cooked for quite long enough. It can taste almost ‘hot’ when it’s raw or not cooked properly because it’s so strong. You could reduce the amount a bit next time and sautĂ© it for a minute or two longer. Hopefully that will help. You’ve made me way to try the soup with some chili added now as I love spicy food! So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know!
Viv says
Thanks for the reply – I think that was it! I definitely didn’t cook the garlic for long enough. Regardless, the soup was very tasty 🙂
Nicolena says
Hi! I am planning to make this for an event at my church this coming weekend. I’m going to make it the night before and then heat it up the next day. How to you recommend I store it? Thank you!
A Virtual Vegan says
I would keep it in the fridge overnight as long as it’s cooled down enough before you go to bed. I often just put the entire saucepan in the fridge with the lid on to save dirtying anything else but you could just use whatever you will be transporting it in. If it’s still too hot to go in the fridge before you go to bed just leave it out overnight. There’s nothing in it that will spoil. I hope the event goes well!
Skye says
Great simple soup! It was really easy and I even Made this after a long day at work. Healthy & comforting. I ate it with a vegan quesadilla but I bet it will go great with my sour dough, crackers… anything! I added some Italian spices & chili flakes 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you so much for stopping by to leave feedback and I am glad you enjoyed it! And yes, it’s great with sourdough!
Lilly says
How long does this keep? Can you store it for a little bit too?
A Virtual Vegan says
It freezes really well and will keep in the fridge for up to about 4-5 days.
Shelly Cantwell says
Great dinner! This soup was great light meal
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Shelly. So glad you enjoyed it!
Nicole says
Do you need to peel the tomato skins off for this recipe or leave them on?
A Virtual Vegan says
You could if you wanted to but I never do. Once it’s all blended up you don’t know they are there anyway!
Maria says
This is the best soup I have ever tasted. I used a bit more garlic and it’s such a comfort soup but healthy.
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s great Maria. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Janine Rutledge says
This soup was easy and soo delicious. Soo much flavour! I wish it made more!
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. You will have to double it next time!
Marissa says
Loving this recipe…mine was a little bit too runny…any suggestions??? Thanks!!
A Virtual Vegan says
Perhaps your tomatoes were extra juicy! Once it’s blended up it should thicken nicely. If it doesn’t you could always get some arrowroot powder or cornstarch. Start with 2 tablespoons. Mix it in a cup or bowl with a bit of the liquid from the the soup until lump free and smooth, then add it gradually into the soup, stirring it as you do. Cook it for another 5 minutes or so and it should thicken up. Or if you don’t have either of those, simmering with the lid off and letting it reduce a bit would help.
Ana says
Made this last night. What an easy and delicious soup to make! Was a hit at my home!!!
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Ana!