I want to share one of my favorite lazy recipes with you today. This Quick and Easy Creamy Tomato Soup comes together with the least effort and tastes like you worked hard all day.
I have 2 different methods to cook it for you to choose from on this post, on the stove or in your slow cooker.
You can get an Instant Pot version on my new site, PlantBasedInstantPot.com.
Basically, you are cooking the oats and softening up the cashews. The oats and cashews are what makes this soup extra creamy.
I like my creamy tomato soup to be very thick, but you can add extra water to thin it out if you prefer it that way.
In case you don’t know, an Instant Pot is a multi-function cooker and it has a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, porridge and yogurt maker settings. But you don’t have to have one to make this soup, just use your slow cooker or a pot on the stove-top.
What’s your favorite easy soup to make on the weekend? Do you have an electric pressure cooker? Let me know in the comments below.
- 1 - 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (can use tomato puree)
- 1 - 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- 3 cups water
- ½ cup cashew pieces
- 3 tablespoons oats (rolled, steel-cut or Scottish)
- 1 to 2 vegetarian bouillon cubes
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT for the agave nectar, salt and pepper to your slow cooker. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours.
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT for the agave nectar, salt and pepper to a soup pot. Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes to soften the cashews.
- Carefully pour the cooked mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to do this in 2 batches. Add agave nectar if using and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add more water if the soup is thicker than you want it to be.
Quick and Easy Creamy Tomato Soup
This soup is as easy as the condensed soups but free of the corn syrup and preservatives. You need a few things from your pantry, then you can make it in your slow cooker, Instant Pot or on the stove-top. Please note that you can easily halve this recipe and just use 1 can of either type tomatoes you happen to have on hand.
Ingredients
- 1 - 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (can use tomato puree)
- 1 - 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- 3 cups water
- 1/2 cup cashew pieces
- 3 tablespoons oats (rolled, steel-cut or Scottish)
- 1 to 2 vegetarian bouillon cubes
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT for the agave nectar, salt and pepper to your Instant Pot. Cook on manual for 5 minutes and let the pressure come down naturally - that will take about 10 minutes.
Slow Cooker Method
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT for the agave nectar, salt and pepper to your slow cooker. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours.
Stove-top Method
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT for the agave nectar, salt and pepper to a soup pot. Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes to soften the cashews.
Finishing Steps
- Carefully pour the cooked mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to do this in 2 batches. Add agave nectar if using and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add more water if the soup is thicker than you want it to be.
Ellen says
Just put this in my crockpot! I have to cook it on high for a while and then on low. I plan to try blending it at the end with a hand blender. Thank you!
Donna says
What is an instant pot? I’ve never heard of it, is it something new on the market?
VitaZgal says
If you are abe, go to YouTube. Type in Instant Pot for beginners… Your life will be forever changed! Fun fun fun 🙂
Annette Kennedy says
Made this in my Instant Pot and it turned out wonderful!! We loved it. It was so easy to make and tasted so good. I’ll be making this one a lot 🙂
Donna says
Small pressure cooker. Can be found on Amazon.
Recipe sound wonderful, will make it at a later time.
Julie Hasson says
I am so making this!
Barb says
Absolutely delicious
W S says
This was very good! I made this in my Instant Pot. I didn’t have whole tomatoes so I used diced along with the crushed. I didn’t add agave, salt or pepper. I tried the immersion blender, but it didn’t get the soup smooth enough for me. My trusty Vitamix did the trick!
KensingtonCooker says
Praises for this recipe! I modified it: cut it in half to fit in a small Crockpot, omitted cashews which I can’t eat ((instead I doubled the oatmeal for thickening and added nutritional yeast at the end for flavor), omitted agave nectar, and–here it comes–I quintupled the garlic! it came out marvelous, and even my tough critic husband thinks it’s a keeper. Thank you, Kathy!
Kathy Hester says
I love hearing how people modify my recipes to fit their needs. I’m so glad you like it!
Anna Wright says
I just love this veggie soups you made, great cooking with simple ingredients 🙂
Scott says
We are making this for the second time this week. We loved it SO much! It is decadent and delicious and better than tomato soup I’ve had in high-end restaurants here in the Washington D.C. metro area. This is going to be in our rotation on a regular basis throughout this winter. This next time we’re planning on serving it with vegan grilled cheese sandwiches. My mouth is already watering thinking about this soup. I may double the recipe because my wife loves taking it to work for lunch the next day. I love your website and love your new book! The Instant Pot has changed our lives, helping us stick to our vegan diet as well as prepare all of our meals at home.
Kathy Hester says
Thank you so much for letting me know!
Dp says
Loved this! It was remarkable-I’ll make it often!
Tracy Catarius says
is there anything you would recommend to replace the oats? I cannot have oats unfortunately. Thank you.
Kathy Hester says
You could leave out the oats and add a little more cashews.
Tracy says
thank you!
Laura says
what can use instead of vegetable cubes?
Kathy Hester says
You could use any vegan bouillon you have. I make my own and freeze them in cubes. You can get that recipe here: .
However, if you want to make it right now and you don’t have any on hand add a little nutritional yeast.
Dana says
Great soup! This is a keeper!!
Lani says
Hello. Does it matter if its in high pressure or low pressure setting?
Thanks in advance.
Kathy Hester says
High pressure is usually what I use unless low is specified. In this recipe, I don’t know that it matters too much.
Stacey says
I don’t see agave nector in the ingredient list, but I see it listed in the cooking steps. How much do I use?
Kathy Hester says
Just add a little maybe a teaspoon or so, just to make the flavor less acidic.
Felicia Best says
Have you ever made this with fresh tomatoes? I have a whole bunch that I need to use, and am wondering how I might need to adjust the recipe to use those instead. What are you thoughts?
Kathy Hester says
I haven’t made this with fresh tomatoes, but you should be able to. It will be much thinner, so you may have to cook it with the lid off until it gets thick enough.
Shari says
I made this on a freezing cold night and it was perfect! So easy and delicious! I’m not an experienced cook and made it in the Instant Pot. It’s foolproof! Definitely a keeper.
Marji Kacur says
I just tried to make this soup , the tomato one, and just added everything into the instant pot and put it on for 5 min. I ended having the burn sign come on after maybe 3 – 4 min So I stopped it and shut it off. I will end up cooking it on the stove. Still a beginner with my new instant pot but not having much luck.
Kathy Hester says
What size is your IP? I’ve made this in a 6-quart several times with no issues. I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot it though.
Pattie says
Could you use vegetable stock in place of water and vegetable cubes?
Kathy Hester says
Absolutely!