Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe (Ready in 70 Min)

This British starter builds celery, carrots and potatoes into a comforting meal you can have ready in about 70 minutes. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 8 steps.

You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 8 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.

How to make it

Put the oil, onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and bay leaves in a big casserole dish, or two saucepans. Fry gently until the onions are softened – about 10-15 mins. Fill the kettle and boil it.
Stir in the tomato purée, sugar, vinegar, chopped tomatoes and passata, then crumble in the stock cubes.
Add 1 litre boiling water and bring to a simmer.
Cover and simmer for 15 mins until the potato is tender, then remove the bay leaves.
Purée with a stick blender (or ladle into a blender in batches) until very smooth.
Season to taste and add a pinch more sugar if it needs it.
The soup can now be cooled and chilled for up to 2 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
To serve, reheat the soup, stirring in the milk – try not to let it boil. Serve in small bowls with cheesy sausage rolls.

You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Pan · Large pot · Blender

Tips & common questions

How long does Creamy Tomato Soup take to make?

About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 8 steps and 13 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of milk?

Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

Is Creamy Tomato Soup vegetarian?

Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.