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Like most people, everything I’ve been cooking lately is full of pantry staples. And this vegan corn chowder is no exception! Uses only 12 ingredients, frozen veggies, and some of my personal favorite pantry staples – potato, coconut milk, cashews, and nutritional yeast. This recipe also comes together in under an hour and is incredibly easy! And best part? It is SO creamy it’s hard to believe it’s vegan. Proof that cream based soups don’t need dairy!

This corn chowder is inspired by a corn chowder I had in Maui on my honeymoon at a restaurant called Monkeypod. They used fresh coconut milk and it was pretty incredible. And although my coconut wasn’t fresh, sadly, it still helped create an incredibly creamy base for this vegan corn chowder soup.

First, blend together cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, coconut milk, and vegetable broth and set aside.

Next, add onion to a pot with a tablespoon of oil and cook until translucent. Next add in the gold potatoes and frozen corn and then add in the cream sauce. Add the lid and cook on low until potatoes are fully cooked. You’ll know when they are easily pierced with a knife.

Lastly, stir in the frozen kale until warmed through.

how to thicken your chowder

This recipe as is should thicken nicely without any additions and will thicken even more once it cools because of the starches in the potatoes. However if you want yours thicker, I would recommend adding a 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch first mixed in a slurry.

best toppings for vegan corn chowder

This chowder is very good on it’s own but I added some red chili flakes. Truth be told, I think I am incapable of not adding some sort of spice to the top of every dish. I’ll admit, I am a hot sauce addict. And also a pickled jalapeños addict. Now that I think of it, hot sauce and pickled jalapeños would also be delicious chowder toppings.

If I had it in my fridge right now, I’d also add my smoked tempeh maple bacon bits to this. And for more fresh toppings, I’d recommend green onion or cilantro and lemongrass! Yum.

If you make this recipe, please write me a comment below and let me know how it worked for you! I can’t wait for you guys to try this one. Dairy is just not necessary in a creamy chowder soup!