Vegan Potato Chowder Recipe

Loaded with flavor from a mix of aromatics and topped with pan seared smoky tempeh, because those crispy little bits take a chowder to a whole new heavenly level. 

Saltine crackers are almost mandatory alongside a creamy potato chowder, but I still prefer a simple crusty piece of whole wheat bread to wipe my bowl clean instead. I mean bowls because I won’t lie, I had seconds and thirds hehehe

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Vegan Potato Chowder

Hearty and creamy Vegan Potato Chowder recipe with leeks, cashews and thyme.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword Potato Chowder

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 267kcal

Author Florentina

Ingredients

• 6 medium golden potatoes (scrubbed, rinsed, diced)
• 1 cup raw cashews
• 5 cups veggie stock
• 1 small leek (white part only)
• 2 cloves garlic -minced
• 2 carrots
• 2 rbs celery -cut into rounds
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 leaves bay
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
• 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup fresh chives -chopped
• 1 pinch sea salt to taste
• 1 pinch black pepper (freshly cracked)
• 6 strips smoky tempeh (optional)

Instructions

• Rinse and soak the cashews in hot water for 3 hours or overnight.
• Slice the leeks and make sure to thoroughly rinse them. 
• Heat up a heavy stock pot over medium low flame. Add a splash of water and the rinsed leeks with a pinch of sea salt. Saute a few minutes until wilted. Stir in the carrots and celery and cook a few more minutes.
• Add the garlic, bay leaves and thyme and give everything a good stir. Add the wine and bring to a simmer. Cook a few minutes until reduced by half. ( this step is optional but it adds nice flavor)
• Stir in the potatoes, cashews and veggie stock and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook until the carrots and potatoes are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. (At this point reserve some of the veggies for garnish if desired).
• Carefully transfer the soup to a powerful blender and puree until silky smooth. This is where it pays off to use a Vitamix, that machine is magical. 
• Taste the soup and adjust seasonings with more sea salt and black pepper at this point. Hit it with a squeeze of fresh lemon if desired.
• OPTIONAL: Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium flame and pan sear the smoky tempeh until golden. Transfer to a cutting board and chop it up into small bits.
• Ladle the potato chowder into bowl and top with some of the reserved veggies and crispy tempeh bits. Garnish with the chives and serve hot with saltine crackers or crusty bread.

Notes

• This recipe works perfect as a mock clam chowder as well. Just add a good pinch of kelp granules or seaweed flakes into the mix for that seafood flavor + about a cup of hearts of palm. <-----So Good!

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 828mg | Potassium: 968mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4200IU | Vitamin C: 30.2mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 7.7mg

Potato Recipes:

Potato Mushroom Soup

Potatoes & Mushrooms

Cabbage & Potato Soup