Who doesn't love a winter soup especially when you can cook it up in less than 25 minutes using mainly store cupboard ingredients? A soup can make you feel so warm, cosy and nourished, especially when you come home from a cold winter's walk there is nothing like a bowl of hot soup to warm the soul. If you are participating in Veganuary are a vegan or simply enjoy a quick easy nourishing soup, then this recipe f perfect for you. 

I love making soups as they are so easy to cook, and you can cook them in batches pop them in the freezer, perfect for a quick nourishing snack or light lunch, or you can pack it full with ingredients if you prefer to use it as a main meal. 

This recipe is perfect for a quick light lunch and works for those following a vegan based diet too. 

Ingredients - Makes two portions.  

• Tin Tomato - (I used peeled Plum)
• 300ml - Vegetable Stock 
• 4 Sundried Tomatoes
• 1 Red Onion roughly chopped
• 2 Garlic Cloves roughly chopped 
• 1 Fresh Tomato roughly chopped 
• 1/4 of Fresh Red Chilli ( Optional ) 
• Splash Of Red Wine vinegar 
• Olive oil ( I used rapeseed, you can use what you have  ) 
• Basil Leaves ( optional ) 

You don't need to be neat with the chopping of your vegetables as the soup is all blended at the end. 

Method 

1) Add the onions to a pan with a splash of olive oil and fry gentle for around 10 minutes or until soft and a little brown - be careful not to burn them as they will taste bitter. 

2) Then add the garlic and fry for another 2 minutes 

3) Put in the tin tomatoes, stock, red wine vinegar and simmer for 8 minutes.

4) Add a pinch of salt and 1/4 of a teaspoon of sugar. 

5) Add the fresh tomato and chilli ( if using ) and cook for a further 2 minutes. 

6) Add the basil leaves ( If using ) and Sun dried tomatoes

7) Leave to cool slightly and blitz with a hand blender. I like my soup smooth and not to thick, so I blitz accordingly but if you prefer your soup thick just blitz until you have the texture required. If it's too thick pop in a little hot water.  

Tips & Variations. 

If you wanted to make the soup more decadent and you were not following a vegan diet then you could add a touch of Milk to make it a little creamy or grate a little parmesan cheese on top.  

Double the quantity and freeze in portions.