Easy Vegan Roasted Tomato Soup with Basil and Croutons Recipe

Introduction

This easy vegan tomato soup is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for any season. Roasting cherry tomatoes brings out their natural sweetness, while a touch of vegan cream adds smoothness for a rich, satisfying bowl.

A bowl filled with thick, smooth, bright red tomato soup forms the base layer, topped with scattered light yellow toasted croutons that look crunchy with some browning, and small white shredded cheese clusters spread unevenly on top. A few small green herb leaves are sprinkled over the soup, adding a splash of color contrast. A silver spoon is placed inside the bowl on the right side, with its handle resting on the bowl’s edge. The bowl is light beige with speckles, set on a white marbled surface. In the top right corner, a white bowl with torn dark green herbs and a small bunch of fresh thyme sit near the bowl. A blue and white striped cloth is partly visible at the lower left edge of the image. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 6 cups cherry tomatoes, fresh or frozen
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, rough chop
  • 5-6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 4-6 fresh thyme sprigs or leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
  • 1-2 cups vegetable broth or stock
  • 1/2 cup vegan heavy cream
  • 6-10 leaves fresh basil, ribbons (more to taste)
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Croutons for garnish

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400º F.
  2. Step 2: Place the cherry tomatoes in an 11″ x 9″ baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, add garlic cloves, chopped onion, thyme, salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes until tomatoes are soft, juicy, and slightly caramelized.
  3. Step 3: While tomatoes roast, prepare your vegan heavy cream and vegetable broth if needed.
  4. Step 4: Transfer the roasted tomatoes and aromatics into a blender. Blend until smooth, adding vegetable broth or water to reach your preferred consistency.
  5. Step 5: Pour the blended tomato mixture into a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in about 1/4 cup of vegan heavy cream. Simmer for 10 minutes, tasting and adjusting seasoning by adding more broth, cream, or salt as desired.
  6. Step 6: Ladle soup into warm bowls and garnish with fresh basil ribbons, red pepper flakes, vegan parmesan cheese if desired, and crunchy croutons.
  7. Step 7: For extra crunch, make homemade croutons in an air fryer while the tomatoes roast—a quick and easy addition to your soup.

Tips & Variations

  • Use fresh thyme for the best flavor, but dried thyme works well if fresh isn’t available.
  • Adjust the thickness by adding more or less vegetable broth depending on your preference.
  • Swap vegan heavy cream for coconut milk for a subtly different richness.
  • Add a splash of balsamic vinegar before blending to boost the tomato’s natural sweetness.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally. If the soup has thickened after refrigeration, add a splash of vegetable broth or water while reheating to restore the desired consistency.

How to Serve

A bowl filled with thick, smooth tomato soup in a rich orange-red color forms the base layer. On top, a swirl of white cream is gently mixed into the surface, creating light streaks. Several large golden-brown toasted bread cubes with a crunchy texture sit in the center. Small bits of white shredded cheese or crab meat are scattered around the bread. Tiny green herb leaves and specks of black pepper are sprinkled across the soup for garnish. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface with fresh green thyme sprigs nearby and a small white bowl with green leaves in the background. A silver spoon rests inside the soup bowl. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use canned tomatoes instead of fresh or frozen cherry tomatoes?

Yes, canned tomatoes can be used as a convenient alternative. Use the same quantity and adjust seasoning to taste since canned tomatoes may have added salt or acidity.

How do I make vegan heavy cream at home?

You can make vegan heavy cream by blending soaked cashews with water or unsweetened plant milk until smooth and creamy. For a richer texture, reduce the amount of liquid.

Print
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Easy Vegan Roasted Tomato Soup with Basil and Croutons Recipe


  • Author: Rafael
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This Easy Vegan Tomato Soup is a creamy, comforting, and flavorful dish made with roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, onion, and fresh herbs. The tomatoes are roasted to caramelized perfection, then blended and simmered with vegetable broth and vegan heavy cream for a luscious texture. Topped with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, vegan parmesan, and crunchy homemade air-fried croutons, this soup is perfect for a cozy meal that’s fully plant-based and simple to prepare.


Ingredients

Scale

Soup Ingredients

  • 6 cups cherry tomatoes, fresh or frozen
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, rough chopped
  • 56 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 46 fresh thyme sprigs or dried thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
  • 12 cups vegetable broth or stock
  • 1/2 cup vegan heavy cream
  • 610 fresh basil leaves, sliced into ribbons
  • pinch of red pepper flakes

Garnishes

  • Vegan parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Croutons (homemade, prepared in air fryer)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 400º F to prepare for roasting the tomatoes and aromatics, which will bring out their natural sweetness and intensify the flavor of the soup.
  2. Roast the tomatoes and aromatics. In an 11″ x 9″ baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, olive oil, garlic cloves, rough chopped onion, thyme (fresh or dried), salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together, then roast in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until the tomatoes are soft, juicy, and starting to caramelize and develop a rich depth of flavor.
  3. Prepare vegan heavy cream and vegetable broth. While the tomatoes roast, make your vegan heavy cream (e.g., cashew cream) if making from scratch, and ensure your vegetable broth or stock is ready to use for thinning the soup as needed.
  4. Blend the roasted tomatoes. Transfer the roasted tomatoes and all the roasted ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth, adding some vegetable stock or water as necessary to reach your desired soup consistency.
  5. Simmer the soup. Pour the blended tomato mixture along with additional vegetable broth into a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in about 1/4 cup vegan heavy cream to create a silky texture. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and taste to adjust salt, pepper, or creaminess. Add more broth to thin or more vegan cream to thicken as preferred.
  6. Prepare the garnishes and croutons. While the soup simmers, make your homemade croutons in the air fryer for a crispy, crunchy topping. Cut bread into cubes and air fry until golden. Also, slice fresh basil leaves into ribbons and have vegan parmesan cheese ready if using.
  7. Serve and garnish. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top each serving with fresh basil ribbons, a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat, vegan parmesan cheese if desired, and a generous handful of homemade crunchy croutons. Enjoy warm.

Notes

  • Using cherry tomatoes helps accelerate roasting and adds natural sweetness.
  • Vegan heavy cream can be made from cashews or store-bought for convenience.
  • Adjust the amount of vegetable broth to achieve preferred soup thickness.
  • Roasting the tomatoes caramelizes their sugars, deepening the soup’s flavor.
  • Making croutons in the air fryer is quick and yields perfectly crisp results.
  • This soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • For a spicy kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: Vegan, American

Keywords: vegan tomato soup, roasted tomato soup, easy vegan soup, homemade tomato bisque, plant-based soup, dairy-free tomato soup

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