I love the approach of soup weather at our house, when the Instant Pot starts to live on the counter and all of the favorite cold-weather comfort foods start their rotation. In fact, tomato soup was one of my favorite soups before switching to a real-food diet. Now, I don’t think I could eat the canned stuff if I tried, but this homemade version is wonderful.
Another bonus of making homemade soup is the versatility. This recipe is also easily adapted to dairy-free, and you can easily increase or decrease the garlic and salt to your family’s tastes. (My vote is always more garlic!)
How to Make Tomato Soup (From Fresh Tomatoes!)
This recipe is so quick to make and can even be made in just one pot if you have an immersion blender (one of my favorite kitchen tools). This recipe is grain-free and dairy-free, but tomatoes are nightshades, so this recipe might not be the best for those struggling with autoimmune issues.
Instant Pot Option
To adapt this to the Instant Pot, saute oil or butter, onion, and garlic in the Instant Pot for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add ingredients, close the top, and set pressure to High for 15 minutes. Let steam release naturally for 10 minutes. Remove lid and puree with an immersion blender right in the pot, and serve.
How to Dress Up Tomato Soup
I love to serve our tomato soup with a seasonal side. Sometimes it’s as simple as cut-up apples or sometimes as fancy as this tasty beet and arugula salad.
If you are mostly grain-free but still want the taste of the classic grilled cheese pairing, top the soup with some crunchy Parmesan chips.
Other ideas to add some fun textures and flavors (and even add more vegetables!):
- chopped roasted chicken to make it more of a meal
- a swirl of Greek yogurt (use a dairy-free yogurt if desired)
- roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or pine nuts
- a dollop of basil pesto
- chopped and wilted spinach
- diced zucchini (saute with the onions and garlic)
- roasted carrot coulis
No Time to Make From Scratch?
It takes less than 30 minutes to make this soup, but life is busy and sometimes I don’t even have that. Kettle & Fire, my favorite broth-makers, also has an amazing ready-made tomato soup that I make sure to keep in the pantry for busy nights. The taste and nutrition are as good as homemade!
Simple Tomato Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil (or butter)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 28 oz diced tomatoes (or 6 fresh tomatoes)
- ½ cup fresh basil (minced, or 3 TBSP dried basil)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup coconut milk (or heavy cream if not dairy-free)
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place diced onion in a large pan with the butter or coconut oil.
- Saute over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and tomatoes and saute an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for at least 5 minutes. For richer flavors, you can simmer for up to 30 minutes.
- If desired, use an immersion blender to carefully blend in the pot until smooth.
- Garnish with chopped basil and serve.
Notes
Can you freeze tomato soup?
It worked for me following these instructions.Nutrition
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What is your favorite kind of soup? Share below!
Egg Substitutes for Cooking and Baking
Can I use beef or chicken broth instead of bone broth?
Those are both bone broth…but yes, you can use either one 😉
Made this for dinner last night. It was FANTASTIC. When I packed a bowl for left over lunch I through in some frozen (already cooked quinoa). Seriously LOVING my lunch today:)
I just whipped up a double batch of this because the recipe looked so simple and I thought it would be great for having as lunch through the week. OH MY! This is the best tomato soup I’ve ever had – and I love tomato soup! Thanks for such a great, simple recipe. I’ll definitely be whipping this one up again. 🙂
This is much like my tomato soup recipe and tomato soup is one of my favorites. I add milk or cream to mine. Yum.
Mmm, Katie this looks so good! I bought an immersion blender specifically for this recipe. Also: your mention of soup weather made me think of this short article below. Please just glance at it, it is so funny (like, pee-in-your-pants funny):
https://www.theonion.com/perfect-soup-weather-coming-1819572263
Looks yummy! But the link to your tomato paste leads to the coconut oil instead. Please fix it so I can see which tomato paste you use. Thanks!
Sorry… it is on their site too though under Food>Tomato Products
I know, it did for me too, but they DO carry tomato products: keep looking on their website for organic foods, you’ll find it.
Thanks!
I love tomato soup. For me a pinch of Garam Masala makes it extra rich tasting. Thanks for the recipe
Would canned coconut milk work?
Yes
Ohhhh girlfriend… making this this week! Love finding recipes I already have all the ingredients for!
Oh my goodness, you’re right! This IS simple! So yummy looking too, perfect for this cold weather. (it’s even cold down here in Miami!! at least by our standards 🙂 )