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This creamy tomato soup recipe is comfort food at its best! It tastes rich, but it's light and healthy, made with blended chickpeas instead of heavy cream.

I’d say yes to a bowl of this creamy tomato soup every day in the wintertime! It’s exactly the sort of comforting dish I crave on cold, gray days, because it’s wholesome, yet fun. The soup itself is pretty darn healthy, made without any heavy cream or butter. In fact, it’s totally vegan! Still, it has a satisfying creamy texture and rich taste. Wholesome: check.

The fun part of this creamy tomato soup is actually the topping. I load it up with toasty vegan grilled cheese croutons! They add a nice crunch to the creamy soup, and they let you enjoy the classic grilled cheese + tomato soup combo all in one. SO fun, right? Let’s cook!

Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe Ingredients

Because it’s winter, I intended to make this soup using only canned tomatoes, but at the store, I saw some organic fresh tomatoes that looked too good to pass up. I decided to roast them and toss them into the soup in addition to the canned tomatoes. Then, I rounded it out with these key ingredients:

• Roasted onion and garlic add an irresistible, caramelized depth of flavor.
• Chickpeas are the secret ingredient! They make this vegan tomato soup lusciously creamy without any dairy.
• Balsamic vinegar makes it deliciously tangy.
• Fresh thyme adds a lovely herbal note. A handful of fresh basil would be great here too!
• Maple syrup balances the acidic balsamic and tomatoes.
• Extra-virgin olive oil adds richness.
• And a dash of red pepper flakes spices it up.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Creamy Tomato Soup

I like to think of this homemade tomato soup recipe in two easy steps: 1. Roast and 2. Blend.

Here’s how it goes:

Homemade Tomato Soup Serving Suggestions

This creamy tomato soup is delicious on its own, but the grilled cheese croutons really take it over the top. Of course, regular croutons would be a yummy topping too.

Not in the mood for croutons? That’s ok! Pair this soup with a regular grilled cheese sandwich, avocado toast, homemade focaccia, or crusty bread. I also like it with a salad on the side. This kale salad, this broccoli salad, a Caesar salad, or a chopped salad would all be good choices.

More Favorite Soup Recipes

If you love this creamy tomato soup, try one of these homemade soup recipes next:

• Many-Veggie Vegetable Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Carrot Ginger Soup
• Best Lentil Soup
• Black Bean Soup
• Pumpkin Soup
• Vegan Broccoli Soup
• Or any of these 30 Best Soup Recipes!

For 85 more vegan recipes, check out this post!

Creamy Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 4 medium fresh tomatoes* (see note)
• 1 small yellow onion, sliced into quarters
• 1 (14-oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1/3 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ½ teaspoon maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Heaping ½ teaspoon sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

for the croutons: (optional)

• 8 slices SimplyNature 7 Grain Bread
• heaping ½ cup Earth Grown Vegan Mozzarella

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Wrap the garlic cloves in a piece of foil and place it on the baking sheet along with the whole tomatoes and the onion wedges. Drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tomatoes and onions are well browned. Peel the garlic and transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender.
• Reduce the oven heat to 400° F and line the baking sheet with a fresh sheet of parchment paper.
• To the blender, add the canned tomatoes, garbanzo beans, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, thyme leaves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and freshly ground pepper and blend until creamy (a Vitamix is ideal here. If using a regular blender, just blend longer!). Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. At this stage, the soup should still be hot. If not, pour it into a pot to reheat it.
• Make the croutons: Sprinkle 4 slices of the bread with a thin layer of cheese. Top with the remaining bread slices to make sandwiches and drizzle the outsides of the bread with olive oil. Bake until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing into croutons so that the cheese doesn’t ooze out when you cut it.
• Serve the soup with the croutons (some in the soup, some on the side) and additional fresh thyme, red pepper flakes, and chickpeas, if desired.

Notes

Special thanks to ALDI for partnering on this post. Click here to find a store near you!

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