Vegan no Clam Chowder Recipe + VIDEO (2024)

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Best vegan clam chowder soup with oyster mushrooms, golden potatoes and cashew cream in a kombu seaweed broth. The ultimate Boston style clamless chowder recipe from scratch, thick and creamy, easy to make, gluten and dairy free! + Video.

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Vegan Clam Chowder

A good for you, really easy and comforting vegan clam chowder that is both healthy and delicious. You can make it all from scratch if you desire or take a short cut with a couple of store bought ingredient swaps.

Kombu Veggie Stock

The rich umami oceany seafood flavor in this chowder comes from a simple kombu stock I make. Basically dehydrated strips of kelp i keep in a jar in my pantry at all times. Kombu makes an amazing miso broth as well for an ultimate bowl of miso noodle soup.

Seaweed and algae are perfect for adding that oceany flavor to any dish and replicating the seafood flavor without any chemicals like I did in this hearts of palm ceviche, no tuna chickpea salad+ spaghetti aglio e olio.Alternatively you could crumble some toasted seaweed on top of your bowl before serving.

The Mushrooms

I find the oyster mushroom medley ideal for this recipe, however shiitakes, maitakes, enoki or hen of the woods make great substitutes as well. If none of the above are available just use chopped up white button mushrooms.

About the Potatoes

My favorite potatoes for soups and chowders are Yukon gold. Not only are they really delicious but their skins are very thin so there’s no need to peel them therefor no waste. They also have a waxy but buttery texture and hold their shape together nicely during cooking providing nice texture to your pot of soup.

Tips for Creamy Dairy Free Chowder

  • The silky creaminess of this chowder comes from the homemade cashew based heavy cream. You just stir it in and it’s simple perfection.
  • If you prefer an even thicker chowder at this point, simply puree about 1/4 to 1/3 of the soup in a blender until super creamy then mix it back in with the rest. The potato cashew cream mix is divine, no need for flour or other thickeners.

FAQ

  • Where can I find kelp, dulse flakes or kombu ? Most major grocery stores should have them in the same island with all the seaweed and soy sauce. The fresh sea veggies packed in salt are usually in the refrigerated section next to the kelp noodles and tofu. You can also order them online from Amazon.
  • Can I use coconut cream instead of cashew cream ? You most definitely can but the coconut flavor is definitely present and noticeable. If you want that authentic chowder flavor I strongly suggest sticking with the easy cashew cream from the recipe card, thickening the broth with flour or using a store bought plant based cream instead like the Silk brand.
  • What can i substitute for mushrooms in the chowder? If mushrooms aren’t your thing feel free to replace them with chopped up hearts of palm, one 14 oz can should be enough. Alternatively I would use cooked chopped soy curls, they have a nice meaty texture made from whole soy beans and absorb whatever flavor you want to give them.
  • Is clam chowder vegan? Only if it doesn’t contain the actual mollusks aka clams. Since this recipe features oyster mushrooms (or hearts of palm) and only plant-based ingredients you are totally good to go.
  • What is the difference between Boston, New England and Manhattan chowder? What differentiates these three chowders is mostly the broth. The Boston broth is thick and creamy like the recipe below, the New England Rhode Island broth is a thin more clear kind of broth, while the Manhattan features a red tomato based broth.
  • On Storage –Since this is a dairy-free soup it can be store in the refrigerator up to a week. It also freezes well up to 5 months in freezer proof lidded containers. Remember to thaw out in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • What to serve with ? oyster crackers, crispy smoky tempeh bits or fakin’ bacon, vegan caesar salad, homemade crusty bread, garlic bruschetta,dinner rolls.

How to Make Vegan Clam Chowder from Scratch

  1. Start by making a homemade stock with the secret ingredient: Kombu or your favorite seaweed!
  2. Prepare the cashew cream and refrigerate until needed.
  3. Saute the oyster mushrooms with thyme and a little bit of white wine until wilted.
  4. Cook the celery and potatoes with the herbs and spices in the homemade veggie broth until tender, stir in the cream.
  5. If you prefer your chowder to be thicker at this point just puree about 1/4 of it and mix back into the chowder. Add the mushrooms to the soup, adjust seasoning and enjoy sprinkled with some crumbled toasted nori seaweed on top!

Vegan no Clam Chowder Recipe + VIDEO (8)

Vegan Soups

  • Zuppa Toscana
  • Creamy Broccoli Potato Soup
  • Wild Rice Soup
  • Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup
  • Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Chickpea Stew
  • Potato Dill Soup
  • Summer Soup.

Vegan no Clam Chowder Recipe + VIDEO (9)

5 from 8 votes

Vegan no Clam Chowder

Best vegan clam chowder soup with oyster mushrooms, golden potatoes and cashew cream in a kombu seaweed broth. The ultimate Boston style clamless chowder recipe from scratch, thick and creamy, easy to make, gluten and dairy free!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:25 minutes mins

Ingredients

Cashew Cream

Kombu Veggie Stock

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • If making your own stock start by bringing all the stock ingredients to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer away until the stock has concentrated and reduced to 4 cups. Strain and set aside or refrigerate until needed. (it can be made a couple of days in advance if needed). Alternatively feel free to use a store bought veggie broth and add some dulse flakes or any seaweed to it to create that ocean flavor.

    6 cups water, 2 stalks celery, 1 carrot, 1 leaf bay, 2 strips dried Kombu, 3 tsp dulse flakes, 1/8 tsp turmeric

Make the Cashew Heavy Cream

  • Rinse the cashews well then transfer them to powerful blender and cover with the hot water. Allow to soak while you work on the chowder. Just before the chowder is ready make sure to come back and puree until smooth and creamy.

    1 cup raw cashews, 1 cup hot water

The Chowder

  • In a medium size stock pot add a splash of water or a little drizzle of olive oil (omit the oil for WFPB & Plantricious diets) and sautee the onion with a pinch of salt until translucent.

    1/2 yellow onion

  • Add the garlic, oyster mushrooms and half of the fresh thyme and toss to coat well. Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of sea salt and hit it with the white wine. Cook until the mushrooms have wilted and the wine has evaporated. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.

    8-10 oz oyster mushrooms medley, 3 cloves garlic, 10 sprigs thyme, 3 tbsp dry white wine

  • In the same pot you cooked the mushrooms add the diced celery, diced potatoes, bay leaf, the rest of the thyme, onion powder, nutritional yeast and veggie kombu broth. Season to taste with sea salt and bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes and celery have softened. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs if they are woodsy.

    4 cups golden potatoes, 1 stalk celery, 1 bay leaf, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp nutritional yeast, 4 cups kombu veggie stock

  • Stir in the cashew cream. At this point if you would like your chowder to be thicker simply transfer 2 or 3 ladles of the soup into the blender and puree until smooth. Add it back into the pot and combine.

  • Add the sautéed oyster mushrooms into the chowder and adjust seasonings. Serve hot garnished with fresh thyme, chives, crumbled toasted seaweed + crusty bread or oyster crackers on the side.

    chives or scallions

Video

Notes

  • Make Ahead - Both the cashew cream and Kombu stock can be made a couple of days in advance.
  • Swaps - If you aren’t a fan of mushrooms you can still make this chowder using chopped up hearts of palm instead.
  • Seafood Flavor - you can bump up the seafood flavor with more dulse flakes or sprinkle some crumbled toasted seaweed on top to your liking.
  • Add Miso - If you want to get a little fancy you can add in some dissolved white miso paste at the very end.
  • On Storage -Since this is a dairy-free soup it can be store in the refrigerator up to a week. It also freezes well up to 5 months in freezer proof lidded containers. Remember to thaw out in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 867mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1796IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 6mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: soup, vegan chowder

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 231kcal

Author: Florentina

Vegan no Clam Chowder Recipe + VIDEO (2024)

FAQs

What two ingredients must be present for the soup to be called a chowder? ›

Chowder is a soup with cream or milk mixed with ingredients such as potatoes, sweet corn, smoked haddock, clams and prawns, etc.

What is the best thickener for clam chowder? ›

This clam chowder recipe should produce perfectly rich soup. If you'd like your chowder a little thicker, though, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Simply stir cornstarch into a small amount of cold water (or another liquid, such as wine or stock), then stir the mixture into the simmering chowder.

What ingredient does chowder always have? ›

Customarily, chowder included onion, potatoes, and cream.

How to make clam chowder thicker without cornstarch? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

How do you thicken vegan chowder? ›

Mix mix 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth then stir into the soup. May need to double or triple that depending on how much soup you have. Simmer gently to thicken. The advantage of arrowroot starch over cornstarch is that it does not break down as quickly when heated.

What's the best potato to use for clam chowder? ›

Potatoes: I use Yukon Gold potatoes for this recipe because I love their creamy consistency, but red potatoes are always a great candidate for soups and chowders because they hold up the best. Russet potatoes may also be used, but they're also the starchiest, which makes them more prone to falling apart.

Is it better to thicken chowder with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

What can I use instead of cream in chowder? ›

Milk and butter

A last-minute alternative if you're out of heavy cream and need it for a recipe is to combine milk and butter. It's an easy substitute that'll work for most recipes. The butter adds extra fat to the milk, making its fat percentage similar to that of heavy cream.

How do you thicken chowder without cream? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

What is the floating fart from chowder? ›

Chowder's best friend and pet, Kimchi is a floating stink cloud. Most people don't' want to be around him, but Chowder doesn't mind Kimchi's smell.

How to make can clam chowder better? ›

directions
  1. Pour soup into 2 quart sauce pan.
  2. Add chopped clams and 2 tablespoons of juice from clams.
  3. Add thyme, salt and pepper.
  4. Stir all together and heat over medium heat until bubbly then let simmer on low for 20 minutes.
  5. Place in individual bowls and sprinkle with crumbled bacon and serve.

What is the most popular clam chowder? ›

New England Clam Chowder is the most famous and most popular clam chowder. It's been around for centuries, so it's possible its longevity has contributed to its popularity.

How much cornstarch to add to chowder? ›

How Much Cornstarch to Thicken Soup? Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly.

What makes a soup a chowder? ›

The difference between chowder, soup, and stew is that chowder is a soup made with broth that is thickened with flour and cream, with seafood and/or vegetables mixed in. Soup is made with water or broth and can host a variety of ingredients like pasta, vegetables, fruits, grains, meats or seafood.

What are the 2 basic categories of soup? ›

Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews. In traditional French cuisine, soups are classified into two main groups: clear soups and thick soups.

What are the two types of chowder? ›

New England clam chowder is thick, creamy, and milky-white. Manhattan clam chowder is tomatoey, brothy, and clear. Both types share a clean, briny, and slightly-sweet flavor thanks to the clams—but that's about it.

Why is it called chowder and not soup? ›

Eventually, the French word for the large pot or cauldron (chaudière) used to make the villagers' soup morphed into the English word chowder. This way of cooking fish migrated down to New England and farther south along the Atlantic coast and eventually across the country, with variations developing in each region.

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