On chilly nights, or when your soul needs some comfort, nothing hits the spot like a bowl of soup. Spicy soups warm you from the inside out, and noodle soups are like a meal and an activity all in one. Even if you only have a few minutes, you can whip up a 15-minute blender soup to sate your cravings. But chowder, with its creamy broth and hearty texture, is a special kind — even when you leave out the signature clams. From corn to curry, these 16 chowder recipes will make you want to have soup for dinner every night of the week.
Ham brings intense umami to any soup. Add sweet, earthy parsnips for a chowder you’ll want to devour for supper. (via Cotter Crunch)
Make a creamy vegan stew that tastes like the New England classic, thanks to a few simple swaps. Sautéed mushrooms sub in for clams, while a blend of cashews and soy milk make the broth taste as rich and delicious as the original. (via Vegan Huggs)
Corn chowder is always a hit, walking the fine line between sweet and savory in a most delicious way. But bacon, with its smokey and meaty flavor, really sets this recipe over the top. (via Peas and Peonies)
Ham and bean soup is even more crave-worthy when it’s amped up with a creamy broth. Just a splash of heavy cream is all it takes to make a leftover ham hock and some dried beans taste like a five-star meal. (via The View from Great Island)
A take on Thai tom kha, this chowder is made with coconut milk. Each bite is filled with the flavors of makrut lime leaves, ginger, and chilies, which lend intense flavor to the white fish, potatoes, and veggies that make up the bulk of the meal. (via Sippity Sup)
Chock full of tomatoes, veggies, and chickpeas, this take on Manhattan clam chowder is great for all diets. It’s vegan and gluten-free, but still has all of the elements of great comfort food. (via Connoisseurus Veg)
This spiced stew will warm you from the inside out. It’s made with plenty of veggies, quinoa, and some juicy shrimp to make it a full meal. (via What to Cook Today)
Made in a pressure cooker, this vegan chowder comes together in no time. It’s delicately flavored with just a hint of sesame oil, grated ginger, cumin, and soy sauce, to let the flavor of the corn, carrots, and cabbage shine through. (via Veggies Save the Day)
Rich and hearty, this soup gets incredible flavor thanks to a simple technique. The potatoes are roasted before being added to the coconut milk broth and pureed, lending a toasted, caramelized note to each spoonful. (via Domesticate Me)
Cheddar cheese and whipping cream give this soup an unbelievably luxurious texture. Chicken bulks things up, while spices, herbs, and some extra veggies round out the pot. (via Briana Thomas)
Bacon and smoked haddock add a complex flavor to this Irish fish chowder. It’s also got salmon, cod, and mussels, making seafood-lovers very happy indeed. (via Caroline’s Cooking)
Frozen black-eyed peas make this curried chowder an easy, healthy meal. Full of protein, fiber, and nutrients, this vegan soup won’t leave you hungry. (via Holy Cow!)
This sweet, spicy, smokey seafood chowder hits the mark on all flavor fronts, thanks to a vibrant mix of sweet potato, corn, tarragon, lemon juice, shrimp, and Cajun seasoning (just to name a few!). (via Closet Cooking)
Gently sautéed squash and root veggies form the base of this healthy vegetarian chowder. It’s the perfect meal for nights when you want comfort food, but aren’t in the mood for a heavy dinner. (via Vegetarian Department)
Andouille is a too-often overlooked option when it comes to sausage. It adds a unique, spicy flavor to this creamy chowder, playing well with the sweetness of the corn. (via Nutmeg Nanny)
Zesty lime juice, cumin, fire-roasted chilies, and garlic make this Mexican-inspired soup taste surprisingly light. Mild chicken takes on the flavor of the broth, for a wholly satisfying meal. (via Chelsea’s Messy Apron)
Justina Huddleston
Justina Huddleston is a food writer living in Los Angeles. When she's not busy writing, she spends her time in the kitchen creating both virtuous and decidedly junky vegan food. Buffalo chickpea pizza, anyone? She's also been known to eat a plain block of tofu or beans straight out of the can for lunch, but somehow those culinary adventures don't make it to her Instagram. You can follow Justina on Twitter or see what's cooking in her kitchen on her blog, A Life of Little Pleasures.
FAQs
Customarily, chowder included onion, potatoes, and cream.
Can Muslims eat clam chowder? ›
Just be sure to avoid using any prohibited ingredients in cooking, such as wine in fish broth or bacon in clam chowder. For cooking, use whole ingredients like vegetables and grains, and when using partially processed foods like broth or sauces, carefully check the ingredients and look for a Halal seal.
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 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.
What is the best thickener for chowder? ›
Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way. Add cornstarch to a small amount of cold water or other liquid (wine or stock) and whisk into a thick slurry. Then the slurry can be stirred into a simmering soup, a bit at a time to set the final consistency.
Why was chowder cancelled? ›
Chowder was canceled by Cartoon Network in August 2009, as the network felt the show did not fit its new demographic of older boys, favoring shows such as the live-action Destroy Build Destroy instead.
Can Jews eat clam chowder? ›
Salmon, tuna and other fish with scales and fins are fine. But that Maine lobster roll isn't kosher. Neither is that charred octopus, sushi-grade freshwater eel, clam chowder, Dungeness crab, oysters on the half shell nor catfish, which don't have scales.
What are 3 foods not allowed in Islam? ›
If the animal is treated poorly or tortured while being slaughtered, the meat is haram. Forbidden food substances include alcohol, pork, carrion, the meat of carnivores, and animals that died due to illness, injury, stunning, poisoning, or slaughtering not in the name of God.
Can Muslims eat lobster? ›
Opinions on the halal status of lobster within the Islamic community vary. While the majority of scholars concur that lobster falls under the category of seafood, debates continue. The consensus among scholars leans toward categorizing lobster as haram, influenced by its lack of inclusion in the Quran or Hadith.
What is the chowder capital of the world? ›
In fact, did you know that Edwards County, Illinois, is the Chowder Capital of the World? So ordained the county commissioners in 1958 as a salute to downstate chowder. Also known as southern Illinois chowder, downstate chowder bears virtually no resemblance to seafood chowder.
The word chowder is a corruption of the French chaudière (“cauldron”), and chowder may have originated among Breton fishermen who brought the custom to Newfoundland, whence it spread to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and New England.
How to thin out chowder? ›
Ok, this may be a little obvious, but just adding water is going to make your soup go a little further. If you stick to a 50/50 ratio between water and whatever flavoured liquid you're using in your soup (be it tomatoes, a stock type, or a cream), you're unlikely to dilute it to the point of making it unpalatable.
What state eats the most clam chowder? ›
Maine and Massachusetts may be the two states most associated with the cream-based clam chowder. In fact, it is known as one of Maine's most iconic dishes and is considered a classic in Boston's historic neighborhoods.
How do you thicken 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.
How to make can clam chowder better? ›
directions
- Pour soup into 2 quart sauce pan.
- Add chopped clams and 2 tablespoons of juice from clams.
- Add thyme, salt and pepper.
- Stir all together and heat over medium heat until bubbly then let simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- Place in individual bowls and sprinkle with crumbled bacon and serve.
Chowder is a rich, creamy soup that often contains clams and potatoes. Seafood chowders are typical in the Northeast, with New England clam chowder being the most famous. Other seafood chowders skip the clams and swap in scallops, shrimp, lobster, crab or even fish like cod or smoked salmon.
Does chowder always have corn in it? ›
In other words, chowder is a very specific sort of soup. It is almost always thick and chunky (bisque, another type of soup, is generally smooth). Chowder is usually either corn based or seafood based, or both (as in our recipe for Salmon and Corn Chowder, which appeared in this space in early July).
Does chowder always have seafood in it? ›
Chowders don't necessarily require clams—other types of seafood or even vegetables can be the soup's centerpiece, and regional variants abound. But the bone-white, clam-filled version is by far the most popular.
What makes chowder taste like chowder? ›
Chowder is a hearty meal made with milk or cream and usually with a Salt pork,bacon,or other base for flavor along with potatoes. Corn is a popular ingredient to add too. You can add almost any protein you can think of but most tend to be made with Seafood.
Ham brings intense umami to any soup. Add sweet, earthy parsnips for a chowder you’ll want to devour for supper. (via Cotter Crunch)
Make a creamy vegan stew that tastes like the New England classic, thanks to a few simple swaps. Sautéed mushrooms sub in for clams, while a blend of cashews and soy milk make the broth taste as rich and delicious as the original. (via Vegan Huggs)
Corn chowder is always a hit, walking the fine line between sweet and savory in a most delicious way. But bacon, with its smokey and meaty flavor, really sets this recipe over the top. (via Peas and Peonies)
Ham and bean soup is even more crave-worthy when it’s amped up with a creamy broth. Just a splash of heavy cream is all it takes to make a leftover ham hock and some dried beans taste like a five-star meal. (via The View from Great Island)
A take on Thai tom kha, this chowder is made with coconut milk. Each bite is filled with the flavors of makrut lime leaves, ginger, and chilies, which lend intense flavor to the white fish, potatoes, and veggies that make up the bulk of the meal. (via Sippity Sup)
Chock full of tomatoes, veggies, and chickpeas, this take on Manhattan clam chowder is great for all diets. It’s vegan and gluten-free, but still has all of the elements of great comfort food. (via Connoisseurus Veg)
This spiced stew will warm you from the inside out. It’s made with plenty of veggies, quinoa, and some juicy shrimp to make it a full meal. (via What to Cook Today)
Made in a pressure cooker, this vegan chowder comes together in no time. It’s delicately flavored with just a hint of sesame oil, grated ginger, cumin, and soy sauce, to let the flavor of the corn, carrots, and cabbage shine through. (via Veggies Save the Day)
Rich and hearty, this soup gets incredible flavor thanks to a simple technique. The potatoes are roasted before being added to the coconut milk broth and pureed, lending a toasted, caramelized note to each spoonful. (via Domesticate Me)
Cheddar cheese and whipping cream give this soup an unbelievably luxurious texture. Chicken bulks things up, while spices, herbs, and some extra veggies round out the pot. (via Briana Thomas)
Bacon and smoked haddock add a complex flavor to this Irish fish chowder. It’s also got salmon, cod, and mussels, making seafood-lovers very happy indeed. (via Caroline’s Cooking)
Frozen black-eyed peas make this curried chowder an easy, healthy meal. Full of protein, fiber, and nutrients, this vegan soup won’t leave you hungry. (via Holy Cow!)
This sweet, spicy, smokey seafood chowder hits the mark on all flavor fronts, thanks to a vibrant mix of sweet potato, corn, tarragon, lemon juice, shrimp, and Cajun seasoning (just to name a few!). (via Closet Cooking)
Gently sautéed squash and root veggies form the base of this healthy vegetarian chowder. It’s the perfect meal for nights when you want comfort food, but aren’t in the mood for a heavy dinner. (via Vegetarian Department)
Andouille is a too-often overlooked option when it comes to sausage. It adds a unique, spicy flavor to this creamy chowder, playing well with the sweetness of the corn. (via Nutmeg Nanny)
Zesty lime juice, cumin, fire-roasted chilies, and garlic make this Mexican-inspired soup taste surprisingly light. Mild chicken takes on the flavor of the broth, for a wholly satisfying meal. (via Chelsea’s Messy Apron)