As the weather gets cooler we all search for something that will warm our tummies as well as our souls. Stews and Chowders are just the things you are looking for. With so many flavors and styles, you can keep your soul warm all season.

(Original post date Sep 19, 2019/ Links and post updated Sep. 22, 2020)
Stews and chowders these heartwarming hearty soups deserve categories all on their own. But how did they become more than just soup?
This time of the year there is one thing we all know for sure. We are not short on heartwarming hearty meals in a bowl. From chili’s to soups, from stews to chowders there is something for every day of the week.
But! What makes them so different from each other is what make them all special and unique in their own way.
The Difference Between Soups, Stews, and Chowders
Soup: a liquid dish, typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables, etc., in stock or water.
It is rumored that the first soup ever made was back in 6000 BC and it was hippopotamus soup.
Soups are usually runnier and consist of a thinner broth than its cousin’s stew and chowder.
Stew: a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan.
The worlds oldest evidence of stew was found in Japan.
Stew is usually backed with veggies and protein with a broth that is thick like gravy, very similar to the chowder.
Chowder: a rich soup typically containing fish, clams, or corn with potatoes and onions.
In 1890, the magazine American Notes and Queries stated that chowder was of French origin. It was custom among French settlers in Canada to stew clams and fish that was laid in with bacon, sea biscuits, and other ingredients in a bucket called a “chaudière”, and it thus came to be invented. The Native Americans then adopted it as “chawder”, which the Yankees later named chowder.
Just like it’s cousin stew, chowders base is more of a thick gravy consistency however the difference it chowders are usually veggie-loaded or seafood loaded. Beef and chicken are rarely used in chowders.
Stews and Chowders Recipes
"Craving something warm and comforting? Don’t have time to slow-cook a flavorful stew? Well, I have the stew for you, 60-minute Rosemary and Thyme Beef Stew."
"This Slow Cooker Pepperpot Stew contains a dreamy combo of beef, coconut milk and various veggies, beans and light spices. It is comfort food at its finest and requires very little prep."
"Make this soul-satisfying classic American Instant Pot Beef Stew in ~1.5 hours. Tenderized & moist pressure cooker chuck roast immersed in a rich, hearty sauce packed with earthy umami flavors."
"This Crockpot beef stew recipe is simple, hearty, and totally delicious. It’s a comforting classic dish that the whole family will love."
"The flavors of the southern France region of Provence sing in this hearty lamb stew with root vegetables… Instant Pot Lamb Stew Provençal is fragrant with fresh rosemary and Herbes de Provence, and ready in an hour with your pressure cooker!"
"Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Chowder. Warm and comforting and oh so flavorful."
"This Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Stew has a thick and creamy broth that simmers slowly with red potatoes and your favorite vegetables."
"This Vegan Corn Chowder is sweet and creamy, super easy to make, and nutritious and filling!"
"A healthy plant-based twist on the creamy New England classic! This New England Vegan “Clam” Chowder recipe is gluten-free and top 8 allergy-free, with none of the dairy or clams! An easy & quick meatless meal the family will love that’s still hearty and satisfying!"
"This rich, satisfying Smoked Salmon Chowder is a creamy, indulgent bowl of tender chunks of potato, bites of savory smoked salmon, and bursts of briny capers. Serve it with some crusty bread (or better yet, in a bread bowl!) for a perfectly delicious meal that your whole family will enjoy!"
"This Spicy Korean Seafood Stew is hearty, packed full of amazing umami flavor, is HEALTHY and can be made in under 30 minutes from start to finish! It’s the perfect easy-to-make delicious weeknight meal!"
"Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder is a quick and easy gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan soup recipe that is full of flavor! This healthy soup recipe can be ready-to-eat in under 30 minutes! "
"Healthy and Hearty Instant Pot Chickpea Stew made with few ingredients and flavors you won’t resist!"
Thank you to all the bloggers who submitted recipes and participated in the Fall Dessert round-up and a special thank you for letting me use their photos to make this round-up that much yummier!!
Whether you like a comforting stew or a cozy chowder there is something for everyone on this stew and chowder roundup.
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