The Ultimate Guide To Different Types Of Chowder

Whether you look forward to it as a go-to appetizer every time you step foot in a seafood restaurant or you've just happened to notice how often restaurants offer it on Fridays, chowder has been a staple at many dining establishments all over the world for many, many years. You might think of it as a fairly modern dish, but in fact, its history goes back much further than your local seafood shack. This dish has a heritage that can be traced back to the early 1800s. The word chowder even predates that era: It's based on the French word chaudière, which means cauldron — the vessel in which the earliest chowders were likely made. The use of such an archaic instrument hints at how old this delicious meal truly is.

When we think about chowder, most of us immediately think of thick and creamy New England clam chowder. Some might also think of its redder cousin, Manhattan clam chowder. But the world of chowder is much more vast than those two dishes. It can include virtually any kind of ingredient, if the chef puts their mind to it — and we mean any. Traditionally, chowder is indeed considered to be a seafood dish. But if you cast your gaze far enough, you can find examples of chowders containing other kinds of meat, as well as vegetarian varieties with no meat at all. Get ready to take some notes, because your perception of this beloved dish is about to expand. This is the ultimate guide to different kinds of chowder.

New England clam chowder is probably the most popular and widely-recognized version of the classic dish. More often than not, if you sit down at a restaurant and see clam chowder on the menu, it's talking about this variety. This complex soup has a distinctively American history, dating as far back as the 19th century. Though its roots are, obviously, in New England, you can find it in dining establishments across the United States, from simple seafood shacks to high-end restaurants. Native New Englanders still claim that the best chowders in the country are right in their own backyard, however — and they're probably not wrong, as even brief visitors to this region can attest. Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut all know how to make a mean clam chowder.

So, how do you know you're eating a New England clam chowder, as opposed to other varieties? The simplest way to tell is by considering the thickness of the broth. New England clam chowder is usually thick and creamy, unlike thinner, more watery varieties, like that of Rhode Island. New England Clam Chowder also universally comes with clams and potatoes mixed into its creamy base, though you may spot other ingredients from time to time, including bacon bits and celery ribs. Whatever you do, do not forget to use the packet of oyster crackers offered on the side. They bring a nice crunch to an otherwise soft and creamy soup.

One of the more popular chowder varieties is Rhode Island clam chowder. It is, as you might expect, nearly identical to the New England variety in terms of ingredients. There's really only one major difference, but it's a big one: While New England clam chowder is thick and creamy, Rhode Island clam chowder is thinner and significantly more watery. Here, you won't find generous usage of heavy cream or milk — although, depending on where you order this particular kind of chowder, you may enjoy a splash or two of cream added to the broth just prior to serving. If so, it's a tiny bit harder to distinguish Rhode Island clam chowder from New England clam chowder. But once you've had a few spoonfuls, you'll be able to tell — a single glug of cream isn't the same as a whole helping.

Just like its New England cousin, Rhode Island clam chowder uses potatoes, celery, bacon, and, of course, clams. Its origin is said to date back even earlier than that of New England or Manhattan chowders: This delicious dish was being made before the 1880s. Today, you will primarily find Rhode Island clam chowder in its namesake state, along with neighboring Connecticut, where it may sometimes appear on menus as Noank chowder.

Many of the most popular chowders feature clams as the primary protein. However, not all marine-centric chowders require that particular ingredient. Seafood chowder, for example, can use any combination of ocean critters, from shrimp to codfish to smoked fish. Consider Irish seafood chowder. It's typically lighter than a traditional New England clam chowder, though it still has a creamier base than, say, Rhode Island clam chowder. Keep in mind, though, that you may also run into seafood chowders that are simply clam chowders under another name. Think of it like squares and rectangles: All clam chowders are seafood chowders, but not every seafood chowder is a clam chowder.

Seafood chowder dates back to the early 1800s, like many of the other chowders mentioned on this list. The earliest signs of this chowder can be found in two European regions: Brittany, France and Cornwall, England. Like most other chowders, it has been widely adopted in American culture, where many different variations have come into existence. Depending on who you ask, all of the traditional clam chowders fall under the category of seafood chowder. What truly differentiates the two kinds of chowders is the presence of other kinds of seafood, like fish or shrimp.

Looking for a thick, veggie-forward version of chowder? Look no further than the scrumptious potato chowder. This chowder can be one of the thickest around — some think the ideal potato chowder should even be possible to consume with a fork. If you're not into that, though, it can be adjusted. This comfort food is actually hugely versatile in terms of ingredients, which means a lot of potential crossover with other kinds of chowder. You can add meat, corn, herbs, and whatever kind of seasoning you like — the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to potato chowder.

Now, potatoes are a main ingredient in traditional New England and Rhode Island clam chowders. But they're supporting players there. Here, the tubers are the star — and luckily, this dish is pretty easy to make. Essentially, if you just take the clams out of clam chowder, you're left with the simplest possible potato chowder. From there, you can add corn to make a hybrid corn and potato chowder. You might also add lamb to make a lamb and potato chowder. The combinations are pretty much endless.

Potato chowder need not only have one kind of potato, either. Usually, you'll see red or gold potatoes used, but you can also use sweet potatoes for an entirely different dish. Chipotle sweet potato chowder is a great example: It uses sweet potatoes to tremendous effect, and has a wonderfully smoky and spicy kick, thanks to its trio of peppers. You could even make any potato chowder recipe vegan by swapping in a non-dairy milk as a base.

As history marches on, all kinds of foods with distinct cultural heritages spread from place to place. Such voyages change the dishes in question, as they're adapted and interpreted all around the world. While most common types of chowder are American staples, that definitely doesn't mean the United States is the only place you'll find the dish. In fact, since chowder's origins can be traced back to Europe hundreds of years ago, it should come as no surprise that there are many distinctly European chowders. One of the most commonly enjoyed is called finnan haddie chowder.

Finnan haddie is simply smoked haddock; the unique name is a Scottish term. Said ingredient can be used in a number of different dishes, such as finnan haddie a la Davis (named for the one and only Bette Davis — talk about cultural adaptation). It can also be used as the star ingredient of your next bowl of chowder. Essentially, finnan haddie chowder is just another kind of seafood chowder that uses smoked haddock as its main protein. But the name gives it a special Scottish twist you just can't help but love.