In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the diced onion and minced garlic, stirring frequently for about 2 minutes until fragrant. Next, add the diced carrot and celery. Sauté the mixture for an additional 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the vegetables are tender and just beginning to caramelize.
Incorporate the roughly chopped tomatoes into the pot, followed by the dried basil and sugar. Stir well to combine all the flavors, then allow the mixture to cook for about 5 minutes. During this time, the tomatoes will start to soften and release their juices.
Pour the vegetable broth into the pot, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
After simmering, use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it reaches a silky smooth consistency. If you don’t possess an immersion blender, carefully transfer the soup in batches to a countertop blender. Once blended, return it to the pot.
Stir in the creamy coconut milk, and season the soup with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Allow the soup to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, just enough to warm through and blend the flavors.
Remove the pot from the heat and serve the soup hot, ladling it into bowls and garnishing each with torn fresh basil leaves for an aromatic finish.
Notes
For an elevated look, drizzle a swirl of coconut milk on top of each bowl before garnishing with basil, and consider serving with crusty bread for dipping!