Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
This creamy vegan corn chowder recipe is smokey-sweet, cozy and delicious. Made with fresh early fall corn or year-round with frozen corn, it’s the perfect wholesome meal the whole family will love!
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
This is one of those “I can’t believe it’s vegan” recipes. It tastes wonderfully rich and creamy with a smokey sweetness that satisfies even the pickiest chowder hound. What’s the secret to an oil-free chowder that tastes like it’s made with heavy cream? Cashews. This recipe boasts a full cup of raw cashews, and you don’t even need to soak them! The cashews soften quickly when blended with hot soup creating a luxurious and flavorful cream base.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Corn, fresh or frozen?
You can use fresh or frozen corn in this recipe. As they say, “fresh is best” but I like to make this comforting chowder year-round, and use frozen corn most of the time with wonderful results. If you are using fresh corn, slice the kernels off the cob by laying it flat on a cutting board for stability. Then slice off one strip at a time, horizontally, rotating the flat end toward the cutting board.
If using frozen corn, run it under hot water first to wash off any frost and to thaw it out a bit for faster cooking. Canned corn will have a “canned corn” taste so go with fresh or frozen corn if available.
Smokey Flavor
The ingredient that gives this creamy vegan corn chowder recipe its grilled corn taste is liquid smoke. I enjoy adding a ½ teaspoon to this recipe for a nice smokey flavor. This is a heavy-handed flavor booster so keep in mind a little goes a long way.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Why you’ll love creamy vegan corn chowder!
o Hearty, comforting and delicious
o Works well with fresh or frozen corn
o Approved by all eaters
o Vegan, gluten & oil-free
This is one of the most comforting and delicious soups I’ve ever tried, and you can make it in under an hour! I’m so excited to share it with you and I hope you love it as much as I do.
If you like this creamy vegan corn chowder recipe, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card below, and lemme know how it turns out in the comments. I love hearing from you!
Keep scrolling for step-by-step instructions with photos!
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Ingredients for Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Ingredients for Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
1 large onion (2 cups), small diced
Water for sautéing
1½ teaspoons of kosher salt, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
2 medium carrots (1 cup), peeled and diced
3 celery stalks (1 cup), diced
4 cups of vegetable broth or stock
1 bay leaf
4 cups of sweet corn (fresh or frozen)
2 pounds (5 cups / 907 grams) of golden potatoes, peeled and medium diced (about 5-6 medium potatoes)
1 cup (150 grams) of raw cashews
½ cups (30 grams) of nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon of black pepper
1 teaspoon of thyme
2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon of liquid smoke
Makes 6 bowls. Click on the ingredients in bold to see what I use in this recipe.
Ingredients for Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Method for making Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Steps 1-2:
1. Add the onions, ¼ cup of water, and 1 teaspoon of salt to a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Sautee until the onions are soft and transparent, about 5-7 minutes. Add water, one tablespoon at a time if the onions begin to dry out.
2. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant, one minute more.
Step 3:
3. Now add the carrots and celery. Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes, adding water, one tablespoon at a time if the vegetables begin to dry out.
Step 4:
4. Pour in the vegetable broth and add the bay leaf, corn, potatoes, and give it a stir. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 10-15 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Step 5:
5. Scoop 2 cups of the hot soup (avoiding the bay leaf) into a blender container along with the cashews and nutritional yeast. Secure the lid on the container leaving the vent in the lid open to let the steam escape. Blend until completely smooth. This may take a minute or more depending on what type of blender you are using.
Step 6:
6. Pour the creamy mixture back into the soup pot and stir until nice and smooth. Now stir in the other ½ teaspoon of salt, black pepper, thyme, and apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Garnish with a sprinkling of fresh parsley and serve with sourdough bread and a side of maple tempeh bacon!
Storing:
This chowder keeps well in the fridge for several days. It does not freeze well.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Other vegan soups and stews you might enjoy!
Printable Recipe Card:
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the onions, ¼ cup of water, and 1 teaspoon of salt to a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Sautee until the onions are soft and transparent, about 5-7 minutes. Add water, one tablespoon at a time if the onions begin to dry out.
- Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant, one minute more.
- Now add the carrots and celery. Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes, adding water, one tablespoon at a time if the vegetables begin to dry out.
- Pour in the vegetable broth and add the bay leaf, corn, potatoes, and give it a stir. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 10-15 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
- Scoop 2 cups of the hot soup (avoiding the bay leaf) into a blender container along with the cashews and nutritional yeast. Secure the lid on the container leaving the vent in the lid open to let the steam escape. Blend until completely smooth. This may take a minute or more depending on what type of blender you are using.
- Pour the creamy mixture back into the soup pot and stir until nice and smooth. Now stir in the other ½ teaspoon of salt, black pepper, thyme, and apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke.
Notes:
This chowder keeps well in the fridge for several days. It does not freeze well.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, see blog post!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
429.60Fat (grams)
12.59Sat. Fat (grams)
2.20Carbs (grams)
69.89Fiber (grams)
10.37Net carbs
59.52Sugar (grams)
10.05Protein (grams)
17.92Sodium (milligrams)
425.95Cholesterol (grams)
1.41Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder