Tomato Soup Recipe

In the UK, spring isn’t generally that warm. I know I’m still wrapped up in jumpers, and so I love a comforting but fresh soup to have for lunches. My favourite soup is a classic Heinz tomato, but this isn’t vegan and can feel a little artificial. So, I decided to make my own. It’s really easy, and you can add additional flavours if you’d like to be a bit more adventurous. So, here’s the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 red onion (chopped)
• 1 tin of whole tomatoes
• 4-6 beefsteak tomatoes, with the stalks removed
• Garlic, peeled (to taste – I use 2 cloves)
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup Vegetable Stock
• Basil, mixed herbs and paprika (to taste)
• *A dairy replacement, if using (coconut milk/cream, dairy-free yoghurt/cream or potato)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Add the onion, garlic, tinned tomatoes and whole tomatoes to a baking dish and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and bake for about 30 minutes. When done, set aside to cool.
2. Once cooled, add the baked tomato mixture to a blender, or use a hand blender, and blend until smooth. If you want really smooth soup, you can remove the tomato skins before blending, or pass the mixture through a strainer.
3. Add your blended mixture to a large pot, and then add the stock and your herbs (and your dairy replacement, if using). Simmer for about 20 minutes, then serve.

*Dairy replacements – I like this soup as it is, but if you want a really creamy soup then you may need to add something. If you’re using a dairy free cream, yogurt or milk, then add this to the mixture with the stock. If you’re using potato, peel and chop your potatoes and boil them while the tomato mixture is in the oven. Once they’re soft, add them to the blender and blend with the tomato mixture.

This is an easy recipe, and so it’s easy to add extra flavours to. I ended up adding spinach to this batch because it was lingering in the fridge. If you want a smokier flavour, try adding chilli and more paprika to the roasted tomatoes. You can also add pesto, other vegetables like pumpkin, red pepper or spinach, and even gnocchi or orzo.

That’s it! As always, if you try this recipe then let me know – enjoy!