Vegan Creamy Tomato Basil (Printable Version)

Comforting tomato and basil blend paired with crisp garlic sourdough dippers for cozy meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Soup

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 cans (14 oz each) whole peeled tomatoes
05 - 1 cup vegetable broth
06 - 1 cup unsweetened canned coconut milk
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 teaspoon sugar, optional
09 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
13 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ For the Garlic Sourdough Dippers

14 - 4 thick slices sourdough bread
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - 2 cloves garlic, halved

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 4–5 minutes until translucent.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in tomato paste, cook for 1 minute, then add canned tomatoes with juice, vegetable broth, oregano, salt, pepper, sugar if using, and red pepper flakes.
04 - Bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add coconut milk and fresh basil leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes more.
06 - Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, carefully transfer soup to a blender in batches. Adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - While soup simmers, preheat oven broiler or grill pan. Brush both sides of sourdough slices with olive oil. Toast until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes per side.
08 - Rub the warm toasted bread with the cut sides of the garlic cloves. Slice into strips for dipping.
09 - Serve hot soup garnished with extra basil and accompany with garlic sourdough dippers.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and restaurant-quality, yet comes together in under an hour with pantry staples you probably already have.
  • The coconut milk creates a silky texture without any dairy, so it feels like a secret ingredient that no one will guess.
  • Sourdough dippers make this feel like an experience rather than just dinner—there's something about dunking warm bread into hot soup that turns a meal into a moment.
02 -
  • Don't skip blooming the tomato paste and garlic in oil before adding liquids; this one step separates a flat soup from one with real depth.
  • Blend the soup completely smooth if you want it to feel creamy and luxurious, but if you prefer texture, blend it only partially and leave some tomato chunks visible.
03 -
  • Keep your immersion blender moving in a figure-eight pattern rather than staying in one spot—this prevents overblending and keeps the texture creamy rather than thin.
  • If the soup breaks or looks separated after blending, it's not ruined—stir in a splash of plant-based milk or broth to bring it back together.
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