Healthy Tomato Basil Soup

Delicious & healthy Tomato Basil Soup with a secret ingredient! This soup is so creamy, rich & flavorful, is vegetarian friendly and dairy free. I’ve had many different variations of tomato soup and this is by far my absolute favorite!

The most flavorful, creamy, and delicious tomato basil soup you’ll have! Made with a secret ingredient of white beans to give it creamy consistency without using dairy, and is a plant-based protein to make this soup extra hearty and satisfying. You can make this soup in a regular stainless steal pot, cast-iron dutch oven, or in instant pot/slow cooker. It’s so easy to make, only needs a handful of ingredients, and is vegan/vegetarian friendly! 

Creaminess without Dairy

No dairy? No problem. This recipe is unique by using white beans in replacement of dairy. Unexpected I know. But when white beans are pureed in any type of soup, a smooth creaminess develops. It makes this soup SO satisfying and delicious! Use navy beans, cannellini beans, or garbanzo beans for this. 

Difference Between Tomato Bisque and Tomato Soup

A traditional bisque is made with a stock of shellfish – like lobster or crab.  Bisque usually consists of a dairy cream to make it rich – regular tomato soup would be just a vegetable or chicken stock and no cream. 

How to Make Healthy Tomato Basil Soup

1. Saute onions and carrots in a large pot with olive oil until soft (about 3-5 minutes). 
2. Then add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, and white beans. Season with salt and pepper. 
3. Let soup simmer for 1 hour covered (stirring occasionally). 
4. When soup is done add herbs. Use a hand puree or transfer soup to a blender – blend until creamy and smooth. Adjust flavor with salt to taste if needed. Serve with fresh basil and a side of crusty bread! 

Make it with Fresh Tomatoes

If you have fresh tomatoes for tomato soup use 3 pounds and cut tomatoes into smaller pieces. Cook cut tomatoes with all of the ingredients and follow recipe as is.

Instant Pot/Slow Cooker Tips

I’ve made this recipe several times in an instant pot/slow cooker. For pressure cooker setting: Add all ingredients to pot (except fresh basil) and set to 40 minutes on high – puree soup at very end with fresh basil. Slow cooker instructions:  set slow cooker to either 2 hours on high or 5 hours on low – puree soup at the very end with fresh basil. 

Extra Helpful Cooking Tips

• How to thicken tomato soup: if tomato soup is on the thinner side use 1-2 extra tablespoons of tomato paste and less broth/liquid. 
• Add herbs at the end when soup is finished cooking – this will avoid a bitter taste that can happen when herbs cook at high heat for an extended period of time. 
• How to make tomato basil soup creamy: rather than using cream, you can add white beans to tomato soup. This will make your soup rich, creamy, and so much more satisfying.

How to Store & Freeze

Freezing Tomato Basil Soup: Transfer soup to air tight container, let soup come to room temperature for storing in freezer. When you’re ready to cook frozen soup, remove and let thaw for about 1-2 hours then place mostly frozen soup in a pot to warm. 

Store in refrigerator: Let soup come to room temperature then store in air tight container in refrigerator for 3-5 days.

More Delicious Soups to Enjoy

• 30-Minute Leek and Potato Soup
• Creamy Roasted Broccoli and Cheese Soup
• Creamy Cauliflower Soup
• Tuscan White Bean Soup
• Feel-Good Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
• Slow-Cooker Autumn Squash Soup
• Healthy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
• Creamy Parmesan Zucchini Soup