Into a medium-size soup pot over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the shallot. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently until softened. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 additional minute.
Into the pot, add the tomatoes, coconut milk, cashews, water, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Pour the soup into a high-speed blender and puree until the consistency is smooth. Alternatively, an immersion blender can be used to puree the soup right in the pot.