This vegan tomato soup made with tinned tomatoes is rich, creamy and full of comforting flavour. Using simple store-cupboard ingredients, it's ready to eat in 30 minutes. Perfect for cosy lunches, weeknight dinners or batch cooking, it's a recipe you'll make again and again.
Fresh tomatoes aren't always full of flavour; canned tomatoes are picked and packed at their peak, giving this soup a naturally sweet flavour of tomato.
Blended until smooth and giving a creamy finish with dairy-free cream or plant milk, it's a budget-friendly recipe.
For ultimate comfort, serve it with this easy Beer Bread Recipe or an Air Fryer Cheese Toastie (grilled cheese).
⭐ Why You'll Love This Soup
- Uses everyday store-cupboard ingredients
- No fresh tomatoes needed
- Rich tomato flavour
- Smooth and creamy
- Comforting
- Easy to batch cook
- Freezer-friendly
- Ready in 30 minutes
- Great for lunches and light dinners
At-a-Glance - Tomato Soup
⏲️ Ready in: 30 minutes
👪 Serves: 3
🍽 Calories: 112 (146 calories with cream added)
🧾 Main ingredients: Onion, garlic, tinned tomatoes, cream or milk
👩🏻🍳 Suitable for: Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian & gluten-free
When you are on a budget, need comfort or are ill, this is the recipe you will turn to again and again.
Summarise & save this recipe:
Jump to:
- ⭐ Why You'll Love This Soup
- At-a-Glance - Tomato Soup
- 🥫 Why are Tinned Tomatoes good in soup?
- 🍅 Which Tinned Tomatoes are Best?
- 📋 The Ingredients You Need
- 👩🏻🍳 Tweak it a Little
- 👩🏻🍳 How to Balance Tomato Acidity?
- 🍅 How to make Tinned Tomato Soup
- 🥪 Serving Ideas
- 🥣 Can you make this Soup Ahead?
- FAQs
- 🥣 More Vegan Soups to Try Next
- ⭐ Sign up for a free recipe sent to your inbox every morning
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
🥫 Why are Tinned Tomatoes good in soup?
- They're picked when perfectly ripe
- Available and at their best all year round
- More consistent flavour than fresh supermarket tomatoes
- You always have a tin in the cupboard to make this soup
- They're inexpensive
- Save on prep time
🍅 Which Tinned Tomatoes are Best?
If I'm using tinned tomatoes uncooked (when I make Spanish Pan Con Tomate or bruschetta) or if they are the star of the show (like when I make Homemade Arrabbiata), I buy Mutti finely chopped tomatoes, but generally if I'm cooking tomatoes I go for a cheaper supermarket brand.
Here's what to look out for:
| Type of Tinned Tomatoes | Best For |
|---|---|
| Whole Plum Tomatoes | Richest flavour |
| Chopped Tomatoes | Quickest option |
| Cherry Tomatoes | Naturally sweeter |
| Supermarket Own Brand | When adding lots of other flavours |
For this tinned tomato soup, I use whole plum tomatoes which I smoosh with clean hands or, if I'm in a rush, I used chopped tomatoes.
📋 The Ingredients You Need
This simple tomato soup is made with ingredients you probably already have.
Find the full ingredients list with method in the recipe card.
- Tinned tomatoes - use plum or chopped canned tomatoes
- Tomato puree (paste) - or for an extra flavour burst use sundried tomato paste
- Cream - this is optional, but it does balance out the richness, you can add some milk instead (I use plant Elmlea cream or oat milk)
👩🏻🍳 Tweak it a Little
This recipe is pretty perfect, but there are a few wee changes you can make that don't spoil the flavour. I would only choose one or two. DO try the basic recipe first though.
- Sundried tomato paste - instead of tomato puree for a richer flavour
- Fresh basil - added at the end of cooking for that Italian touch
- Chilli powder - for a touch of heat
- Vegan parmesan - sprinkled on when serving
- Balsamic glaze - is also good drizzled on the soup when serving
👩🏻🍳 How to Balance Tomato Acidity?
If you do buy the cheapest tinned tomatoes, they can be a bit acidic. To balance this, I have added tomato puree and cream, but here are a few other tips. Try adding one of these:
- Pinch of sugar
- Grated carrot
- A splash of plant cream
- Tomato puree (paste)
🍅 How to make Tinned Tomato Soup
These step-by-step photos will show you how easy it is to make canned tomato soup; keep scrolling for the recipe card.
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a pan and add crushed garlic and chopped onions.
- Step 2: Saute the onions until soft and golden. Add a splash of water if they are sticking to the pan.
- Step 3: Add tomato puree (paste) and tinned chopped tomatoes.
- Step 4: Cook and add stock, then season.
- Step 5: Add cream and blend with a stick blender in the pot or spoon into a blender or food processor and whizz until smooth.
- Step 6: Serve with a littl swirl of cream and enjoy!
🥪 Serving Ideas
- Crusty bread - or soft brown bread
- Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Cheese Savoury Sandwich
- Soft Bread Rolls
- Homemade Beer Bread - try this Cheese & Chive Bread
- Simple Garlic Bread
- Puff Pastry Cheese Twists
- Breadsticks
- Pizza Twists
- Herby Croutons
- Fresh Pesto Swirl (thin down this Homemade Cashew Pesto with olive oil)
- Bagel Pizzas
🥣 Can you make this Soup Ahead?
This plant-based tomato soup is perfect for meal prep.
- The flavour improves overnight
- Keeps well for 4-5 days in the fridge
- Can be frozen in portions
- If frozen, defrost overnight in the fridge before serving.
FAQs
Yes, they give a better flavour; break them into the pan with clean hands or smash with a wooden spoon.
Yes, once cool, pour it into a labelled and dated airtight container or freezer soup bag and store for 3-4 months.
You can skip the cream, but it does cut through the richness. Or you can add some of your regular milk instead.
Basil pairs really well with the flavour of tomatoes, so do add some at the end of cooking or add dried basil while the soup cooks for extra flavour.
🥣 More Vegan Soups to Try Next
⭐ Sign up for a free recipe sent to your inbox every morning
Join my list and have one recipe emailed to you every morning for inspiration.
Also, make sure you are signed up for my new recipe email, so you don't miss any new recipes here at the lunchbox.
📖 Recipe
Vegan Tomato Soup made with Tinned Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 800 g chopped or plum tomatoes 2 x 400g/14 oz tins/cans
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 350 ml vegetable stock
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons plant cream (optional)
Instructions
- In a pot, saute the onion and garlic in the olive
oil until soft. - Add the tomatoes (with their juice), tomato puree
and stock. - Cook for 20 minutes.
- Blend with a stick blender or whizz in a blender or
food processor until smooth. If you don't have either you can leave it with texture or sieve. - Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve with a swirl of vegan cream (optional but
delicious). - Enjoy!
Notes
- This is a small batch soup, but it can be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- I sometimes make a bigger batch and freeze in freezer bags or airtight tubs in the freezer for 3-4 months. To defrost, I remove a portion from the freezer and leave it in the fridge overnight.
Susan says
Just what I need, I have a stinking cold. Cheers!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh no, I hope you feel better soon Susan. This soup will give you a hug.
Francine says
I do not think we have the brand here but a great soup to make with canned tomatoes.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes, super simple to make with a few basic ingredients and a tin of tomatoes. A great last minute soup.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Yes it's super simple and has lots of flavour!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
It's perfect for Autumn and you probably have everything you need to make this on any given day.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes you can make this quickly from what you have as it's made with real basics
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Enjoy it when you make it Kechi 😁
Jill says
Jacqs you just reminded me about this wonderful soup and I am ready for it after all the salads lately. Thanks for sharing it again. Jill x
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I know what you mean, we have had so many salads lately, but had soup last night and really enjoyed it.
Kechi says
This soup looks easy, delicious, and comforting; my kind of soup. Perfect soup for this winter season will be making it this weekend!
Alice says
I absolutely love store cupboard recipes and this soup looks great. Just what I needed for autumn.
Elizabeth says
What super simple, easy to make recipe! I love tomato soup but I don't always have ready made available, or all the fresh tomatoes needed to make it from scratch. This is a super alternative!
Dea says
Ahh thank you for this recipe! I was really looking for something easy but delicious, and this was both! I will make it many times more 🙂