This right here is the perfect Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup (vegan) recipe. Creamy and rich but dairy-free and refined-sugar-free, this Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup comes together easily and is the perfect nourishing and comforting soup for any Whole30, paleo, or vegan diet. No one would ever guess it’s Whole30 or vegan, either! Don’t have an Instant Pot yet? Click here to order one now – they’re life-changing!
My earliest memories of tomato soup aren’t glamorous: impossibly thin bowls of the stuff, reconstituted from a can, served alongside grilled cheese, and in front of maybe Rugrats or Doug. I liked it but didn’t love it, and so I sort of generally wrote tomato soup off as an adult.
Don’t get me wrong; from time to time, a “tomato basil bisque” sounded good as hell to me, and I’d order it to beef up a salad or sandwich when were out to eat.
I was missing it the whole time, though: the absolute beauty of a really good tomato soup. The perfect Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup, even. Though I’d never in a million years have thought that a really perfect tomato soup could or should be Whole30, paleo, or vegan. Or made in the Instant Pot for that matter! It just sounded way too easy and way too healthy.
But with the promise of cooler weather on the way (please please please), I started craving a tomato soup recipe that I could easily integrate into our modern eating, focused on whole, real foods and less on cream, cheese, and bread to go with it all. Straight up? I don’t miss any of it, and especially not in this perfect Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup (vegan!).
What makes this perfect Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup, well… perfect? It’s creamy but still bright and vibrant, simple but not overly so, full of rich aromatics and herbs that perfectly support some top-notch canned tomatoes. I served it for the first time to my assistant and my husband during some weird holiday when he was home but I was still working. He put our son down for a nap and then slurped up a bowl of the soup. He admitted he wasn’t a big tomato soup person but this was really doing it for him.
My assistant and I, on the other hand, are less subtle. Moaning and groaning and omg we need more is how we behave with a really, really great recipe, and there was so much of that going down on tomato soup day at 40 Aprons HQ. Trust us; it’s damn good.
This perfect Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup (vegan, too!) is fantastic alongside a salad with chicken or chicken salad on a Whole30. It’d be unbelievable with a vegan grilled cheese if that’s your thing! And I can speak from experience and say that it’s impossibly good with a mozzarella-Boursin grilled cheese that you justified because you were pregnant and you get to have grilled cheese dangit.
But totally not necessary ?
Oh, and if you’re into Whole30 and paleo Instant Pot recipes, you should really check out my digital cookbook The Paleo Instant Pot. You might also like my Whole30 Instant Pot chicken tortilla-less soup!
To make this perfect Whole30 Instant Pot tomato soup, I used…
Perfect Whole30 Instant Pot Tomato Soup (Vegan, Paleo)
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. avocado or olive oil
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 28- ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes crushed with your hands or in the can with kitchen shears
- 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth for vegan
- 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 Tbsp. coconut aminos
- 1 14- ounce can unsweetened full-fat coconut cream or coconut milk
- lots of sea salt
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
- fresh cracked black pepper
Equipment Needed
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Heat avocado or olive oil in pot. Add the onion, carrots,
- and garlic and sauté for 5-10 minutes or until onions and carrots are very soft.
- Add tomato paste and stir for a few minutes; tomato paste will begin to caramelize and brown a bit. Pour in the tomatoes with the juice, along with broth, thyme, bay leaf, and coconut aminos. Cook on Manual High Pressure for 15 minutes. Carefully Quick Release and remove lid.
- Add coconut milk or coconut cream to pot and lots of sea salt. Stir until totally combined. Working in batches, carefully purée soup in blender and return to pot. Serve with plenty of fresh basil leaves and fresh cracked black pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She’s been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.
Leslie says
I have this in my instant pot right now for the third time in the past two months. I don’t make any changes to the recipe. We love the soup, even my husband who doesn’t normally eat soup. Pair the soup with a grilled cheese and you have a perfect meal on a cold rainy or snowy day like today.
Kelly says
Do you remove the bay leaf before blending?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
We do! 🙂
Amy says
I’ve tried several of your recipes and they are all spot on! This soup was so easy and really good – I’m always skeptical of coconut flavor overpowering dishes but this was such a nice balance. My new go-to tomato soup and my current go-to for great recipes.
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
We’re glad you liked it!
Patty says
Could you adapt for crockpot?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Ohh, great idea! We will definitely notate the fact that we should adapt this recipe for the Crockpot. 🙂
Bethany Comella says
This was perfect and delicious before I added the coconut milk. It’s edible now, but not as good as it was. When I make it again I’ll either use cashew milk or omit it entirely. Otherwise a delicious recipe!
Amelia Camurati says
Cashew milk or another alt milk would maybe give you the flavor you’re looking for!
Ally says
This has been my go to tomato soup recipe for over a year – it’s so so so delicious. I make it 1-2 times a month. Sometimes I add a bit more carrot if I have some sad ones hanging out in the bin, and it only gets better with the addition honestly. If I’m feeling really spunky, I’ll add in some browned beef and some crisped up Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi. Even more delicious! Anyways, I actually do have a question: any thoughts on adapting this to use up a bunch of fresh tomatoes? Tis the season…
Amelia Camurati says
If you stew your tomatoes, you can use them instead of the canned whole tomatoes here!
Lauren says
This is by far my favorite soup I have ever made! Thanks so much for the recipe!!
Cheryl Malik says
Thank you for the great review! So glad you loved it!
Amy says
Can this be frozen and reheated later?
Cheryl Malik says
sure!
Carolina Cervantes says
This soup came out delicious and was so easy to make. I followed it to the T and my hubby who is not a fan of diet or vegan things Loved it!!! So that’s a great sign 🙂 thank for sharing this great recipe
Amy Stacey says
Do you think it’s still yummy for a few days? I’d like to gift this to a coworker.
Cheryl Malik says
Yes!
Amanda says
I LOVE how easy this recipe is! I made it ahead of time and just heated it up in the microwave for a few days, and it was just as delicious.
Cheryl Malik says
I’m glad to know that this keeps so well, and I’m SUPER stoked that you loved it!!
Mary says
This was so delicious! I want more! Can I double the recipe? Or will it not fit in the instant pot? Also are you supposed to chop the bay leaf or just stick in it and take it out when serving?
Hope Helmer says
SO easy and SO delicious. My entire family loves it. Definitely will become a repeat recipe. Thank you so so much ❤️
Cheryl Malik says
That makes me so happy!!
Jamie says
The soup was delicious and super easy to make on the stovetop (instant pot is on my wishlist!) As the recipe makes about 8 cups, how many cups would be one serving as part of a Whole 30 meal? I could eat this by the vat but that’s probably not a good idea!
Teresa says
The BEST and easiest tomato soup recipe! Thank you for one without red peppers. Loved it!!! I haven’t been happy with Tom soup at the grocery and this is my first homemade. I used almond milk instead of coconut and it is beyond good.Will never go back!!
Emily says
Such a rich flavor. Great for a winter night.
Sharon says
This soup is wonderful and so easy to make. I love the flavor and tomato soup is one of my favorites. You have to give this a try you will not be sorry. YUM YUM YUM!