rewrite this title Simple Tomato Basil Soup (Stovetop or Instant Pot)

Cool winds, crunchy leaves, and pumpkins on the porch mean it’s soup weather time at our house. The Instant Pot starts to live on the counter and all of the favorite cold-weather comfort foods start their rotation. Tomato soup was one of my favorite soups before switching to a real-food diet. Now, I don’t think I could eat the canned stuff if I tried, but this homemade version is wonderful.

Another bonus of making homemade soup is the versatility. This recipe is naturally dairy-free, and you can easily increase or decrease the spices and salt to your family’s tastes. (My vote is always more garlic!)

How to Make Basil Tomato Soup

This recipe is so quick to make and you can even make it in one pot if you have an immersion blender (one of my favorite kitchen tools). If you don’t have an immersion blender, then simply blend it up in batches in a regular blender. This recipe is grain-free and dairy-free, but tomatoes are nightshades, so this recipe might not be the best for those struggling with autoimmune issues.

I love the fresh taste of tomatoes in this. If you’re at the tail end of summer and still have some fresh tomatoes from the garden or farmer’s market, this is a great way to use them. Throughout winter when fresh tomatoes aren’t an option I’ll just use canned, organic ones.

I’ve included instructions for how to make it on the stove or in the Instant Pot. You’ll save a few minutes by using the Instant Pot. However, I’m also a fan of smelling the fragrant spices and tomatoes on the stove as they cook.

Here’s how to make it!

How to Dress Up Tomato Soup

I love to serve our tomato soup with a seasonal side. Sometimes it’s as simple as cut-up apples or sometimes as fancy as this tasty beet and arugula salad.

Lately I’ve been loving the creamy soup with some homemade sourdough croutons. It also works well with sourdough grilled cheese. If you’re grain-free but still want the taste of the classic grilled cheese pairing, top the soup with some crunchy Parmesan chips.

Here are som other ideas to add fun textures and flavors (and even add more vegetables!):

chopped roasted chicken to make it more of a meal

cooked ground beef for more protein

a swirl of Greek yogurt (use dairy-free yogurt if desired)

roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or pine nuts

a dollop of basil pesto

chopped and wilted spinach

diced zucchini (saute with the onions and garlic)

roasted carrot coulis

What are your favorite soups to make? Leave a comment and let us know!