American · medium · 45 min · serves 4
How to make clam chowder vegan
Short answer
Replace clams, cream, bacon, butter with oyster mushrooms + nori, cashew cream, smoked tofu lardons. The method is unchanged and takes about 45 minutes for 4 servings.
What makes the classic version non-vegan
- Clams
- Cream
- Bacon
- Butter
Swap table
| Instead of | Use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Clams | Oyster mushrooms + nori | Chewy and briny |
| Cream | Cashew cream | Won't split |
| Bacon | Smoked tofu lardons | Render in oil first |
Method
- 1Fry smoked tofu lardons in olive oil until crisp; remove.
- 2Soften onion, celery and thyme in the same pan.
- 3Add diced potato, kombu stock and torn oyster mushrooms; simmer 20 minutes.
- 4Stir in cashew cream and a sheet of crumbled nori.
- 5Season with white pepper and top with the lardons.
The one thing people get wrong
Kombu plus nori gives the ocean flavour; without them it's just potato soup.
Frequently asked questions
- Can clam chowder be made vegan?
- Yes. Replace clams, cream, bacon, butter with oyster mushrooms + nori, cashew cream, smoked tofu lardons. The method stays essentially the same and takes about 45 minutes.
- What is the hardest part of veganizing clam chowder?
- Kombu plus nori gives the ocean flavour; without them it's just potato soup.
- How long does vegan clam chowder take?
- About 45 minutes for 4 servings — a medium recipe.
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