Tomato Shorba Recipe (Tamatar Ka Shorba)
Tomato Shorba (Tamatar ka Shorba) is a spicy Indian-style tomato soup made using fresh tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and spices. Here is how to make it.
Here are some more soup recipes you may like: Pumpkin Apple Soup, Pumpkin Broccoli Soup, Tomato Florentine Soup, Ragi Soup, and Tomato Basil Bisque.

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Table of Contents
About Tomato Shorba
Shorba is a thin, light Indian-style soup made with local spices and herbs. ‘Shorba’ comes from the Arabic word ‘Shorbah,’ which means soup. It originated in the Middle East but became very popular in India.
Tomato Shorba (Tamatar Ka Shorba) is an Indian version of tomato soup, light, spicy, and bursting with Indian flavors.
My dinner is often soup with salad, and I often serve grilled chicken or fish with it. Although soups are very comforting during monsoons and winters, I drink them year-round, and this Indian-style tomato soup is one of my favorites.
I like to top it with crispy bread croutons, which give the soup a nice crunch as I sip. You can also serve it with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Tomato – Use nice, red, ripe tomatoes.
Whole Spices – You will need cumin seeds, bay leaves (tejpatta), and cinnamon (dalchini).
Others – You will also need water, oil, ginger, garlic, cilantro (fresh coriander leaves), green chilies, salt, and pepper to make this tomato shorba recipe.
Add a little sugar or jaggery to balance the acidity of the tomatoes if the tomato shorba is too tangy.
Water can be replaced with vegetable stock (vegetable broth) for an even richer flavor.
For The Tempering – Tempering is optional but adds a delicious flavor to the tamatar shorba. You will need ghee, cumin seeds, asafetida (hing), and curry leaves.
Variations – Replace ghee with oil for a vegan recipe.
You can make a variation of this soup by adding a cup of cilantro (coriander leaves). This tomato dhaniya shorba also tastes delicious.
You can also add cubed carrots, red peppers, and pumpkin to make a variation of this recipe.
How To Make Tamatar Ka Shorba
Make The Shorba
Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Step 2: Add the following ingredients once the oil is hot, and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 inch piece of cinnamon stick

Step 3: Add 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 2 teaspoon chopped garlic, and sauté for 1 minute.

Step 4: Now add the following ingredients and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- 1 pound (500 g) chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 2 teaspoon chopped green chilies

Step 5: Now add the following ingredients and stir well.
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Step 6: Reduce the heat to low.
Step 7: Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Step 8: Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.

Step 9: Transfer the cooled mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.


Step 10: Pass the mixture through a fine mesh strainer.

Step 11: Add the mixture back to the pan.
Step 12: Add 2 cups of water and mix well. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 13: Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
Step 14: Add some sugar or jaggery if the shorba is too tangy.
Temper The Shorba
Step 15: Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a small pan over medium-high heat.
Step 16: Add the following ingredients once the ghee is hot, and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ยผ teaspoon asafetida (hing)
- 10-12 curry leaves

Step 17: Pour the tadka over the shorba and mix well. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.


Tomato Shorba FAQs
Follow the recipe until water is added to a stovetop pressure cooker. Pressure cook for 1 whistle on high heat. Reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes. Now remove the cooker from the heat and let the pressure release naturally. Open the cooker and follow the remaining recipe.
Yes, you can use canned tomatoes to make this recipe.
Tamatar ka Shorba can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in a pan or in the microwave until hot, then serve.
You can also freeze it for upto 3 months. Thaw, reheat, and serve.
Other Tomato-Based Recipes We Recommend
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Tomato Shorba Recipe (Tamatar ka Shorba)
Ingredients
For The Shorba
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 bay leaves (tejpatta)
- 1 inch piece of cinnamon stick (dalchini)
- 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
- 1 pound chopped tomatoes (500 g)
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
- 2 teaspoons chopped green chilies
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (or to taste)
For Tempering
- 1 tablespoon ghee (use oil for a vegan recipe)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing)
- 10-12 curry leaves
Instructions
Make The Shorba
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, bay leaves, and cinnamon and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
- Add ginger and garlic and saute for a minute.
- Add tomatoes, cilantro, and green chilies and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Now add 1 cup water, salt, and pepper and stir well.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.
- Transfer the cooled mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pass the mixture through a fine mesh strainer.
- Add the mixture back to the pan.
- Add 2 cups of water and mix well. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
- Add some sugar or jaggery if the shorba is too tangy.
Temper The Shorba
- Heat ghee in a small pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the ghee is hot, add cumin seeds, asafetida, and curry leaves and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.
- Pour the tadka over the shorba and mix well. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.




