Chowder
What is chowder?
Key facts
Chowder is a thick soup or stew, typically made with seafood or corn and vegetables, and often includes milk, cream, or tomatoes.
Context
Chowder is a thick soup or stew, typically made with seafood or corn and vegetables, and often includes milk, cream, or tomatoes [2]. In North American usage, it commonly contains fish, shellfish, potatoes, onions, and salt pork [2]. Regional styles vary: New England-style uses milk, while Manhattan-style replaces milk with tomatoes [2]. Chowder is often served with crackers and may be thickened with roux or flour [1]. The word comes from the French *chaudière* [2].
Documented claims
- Chowder is a thick soup or stew, usually made with seafood or corn and vegetables, and often contains milk, cream, or tomatoes. [2]
- In North American cuisine, chowder commonly includes fish, shellfish, potatoes, onions, and salt pork. [2]
- Regional styles differ by base: New England-style uses milk, while Manhattan-style replaces milk with tomatoes. [2]
- Chowder is often served with crackers and may be thickened with roux or flour. [1]
Questions and answers
What makes a soup a chowder?
A chowder is a thick soup or stew, usually made with seafood or corn and vegetables, and often contains milk, cream, or tomatoes [2].
What are the ingredients of chowder?
Typical ingredients include fish or shellfish, potatoes, onions, and salt pork, with a base of milk, cream, or tomatoes [2].
What exactly is chowder?
Chowder is a thick soup or stew, commonly associated with North American cuisine, and often served with crackers [1].
Sources
- Chowders: The hearty soup for cool fall temperatures — escoffier.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- CHOWDER Definition & Meaning — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Kinds Of Clam Chowder — diy.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)