Spirited and Then Some

A food blog with hundreds of delicious gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Photography Resources
    • Teacher Resources
  • Blog
  • RSS
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Recipes Soups and Stews

Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This slow cooker Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder uses cauliflower in place of potatoes! Rich, creamy, and full of flavor, your tastebuds won’t believe it’s a grain-free and paleo chowder, too!

Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder in a white porcelain bowl with silverware on a white marble surface. | spiritedandthensome.com

One of my favorite categories of soup is chowder. And if I can get my mitts on one, then I’m set for life. Or at least through a hearty meal. So I played around with dairy-free chowder recipes a few years ago and came up with Dairy-Free Shrimp Chowder. But I’ve always wanted to expand beyond that early blog recipe. So today we’re whirling up a batch of Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder.

Now, if you’re nervous about cooking with scallops, please let me just say it isn’t as difficult as you might think. Because, actually, it’s not difficult at all. The tricks to working with scallops are patting them dry before cooking them and making sure not to cook them too long. Follow those two guidelines, and you’ll be set! In this recipe we don’t add the scallops until the last thirty minutes of cooking time, so they’ll be in primo condition when you’re ready to serve.

Dairy-free soup in a white porcelain bowl with silverware on a white marble surface. | spiritedandthensome.com

If you’re curious about cooking with scallops then check out Seared Garlic Scallops. They taste like something straight out of a fancy restaurant and are another excellent recipe with which to experiment with seafood!

This creamy chowder is enjoyable all year round, ideal for gatherings, and easily customized to your palate depending on the dairy alternative you select. I used almond milk in this recipe. It’s a neutral flavor but also thinner than full-fat coconut milk, for example. Admittedly, coconut milk will alter the flavor of your chowder, so make sure you like coconut. But it WILL make the soup much thicker, no doubt.

Another favorite customization is cauliflower in place of potatoes. This cruciferous vegetable has a starchy flavor when cooked, and it’s the perfect addition to this paleo chowder recipe. And the ease with which this chowder is prepared, belies just how rich and delicious it is.

So, if you’re in the mood to get your chowder on, then let’s dig in and DO THIS!

Soup in a white bowl on a white surface with silverware. | spiritedandthensome.com

DAIRY-FREE SCALLOP CHOWDER INGREDIENTS:

Below are the ingredients for your own Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder. Add as much or as little of each as you like. Because it’s prepared in a slow cooker, this is a forgiving chowder that’s easily tailored to your palate!

  • Scallops. I buy frozen scallops from Aldi, and thaw them according to package instructions. For best results, pat them dry, and handle with care. Scallops break apart easily.
  • Onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and cauliflower. Cauliflower is a perfect substitute for potatoes, here. And you can never go wrong with garlic. Onion, celery, and carrots are a no-brainer in this recipe, and while I include specific amounts below, you really can add as much or as little of each as you like.
  • Bay leaves, basil, sea salt, pepper, onion salt, and garlic salt. Add more or less of any, as desired. These are the ingredients that give the chowder a bit of a kick or a slightly more neutral flavor.
  • Almond milk and almond flour. These are perfect dairy-free and grain-free additions to the chowder. And if you’d like a thicker chowder, then add a little more almond flour.
Scallop soup in a white bowl on a white marble surface with silver spoons. | spiritedandthensome.com

HOW TO MAKE DAIRY-FREE SCALLOP CHOWDER:

I have made chowder in stockpots, saucepans, and everything in between, or so it seems. But this recipe is prepared in a slow cooker, making it super-simple to throw together.

  1. Set a slow cooker to four hours. Combine the water, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and cauliflower in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves, basil, sea salt, pepper, onion salt, and garlic salt. Stir evenly to coat the vegetables. Let cook until vegetables are tender, stirring periodically.
  2. While the vegetables are cooking, thaw the scallops according to package instructions and pat dry.
  3. When 30 minutes of cooking time remain, add the almond milk, almond flour, and thawed scallops.
  4. For best results, serve immediately and consume within one day.
Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder in a white porcelain bowl on a white marble surface. | spiritedandthensome.com

If chowder is your thing then you might also enjoy Dairy-Free Shrimp Chowder, Easy Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, and Paleo Zuppa Toscana, too! So settle in for the evening and get your chowder on!

Scallop chowder soup photo collage. | spiritedandthensome.com
Print

Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder

Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder in a white porcelain bowl with silverware on a white marble surface. | spiritedandthensome.com
Print Recipe

This Dairy-Free Scallop Chowder is easily prepared in a slow cooker with cauliflower in place of potatoes. Seasoned with basil, garlic, bay leaves, and more! {Paleo}

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 cups 1x
  • Method: Slow cooker

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 cup carrots, slices
  • 4 cups cauliflower florets
  • 3 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • Pinch of garlic salt and onion salt
  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons almond flour
  • 12 ounces scallops, thawed and patted dry
  • Coarse black pepper for garnishing, optional

 

Instructions

  1. Set a slow cooker for four hours. Combine the water, onion, celery, carrots, cauliflower, and garlic in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves, basil, sea salt, onion salt, garlic salt, and pepper. Stir evenly to coat the vegetables. Let cook until vegetables are tender, stirring periodically.
  2. While the vegetables are cooking, thaw the scallops according to package instructions and pat dry.
  3. When 30 minutes of cooking time remain, add the almond milk, almond flour, and thawed scallops.
  4. For best results, serve immediately and consume within one day.

Notes

  • The amount listed for the spices and seasonings are an approximation. Add more for a stronger flavor, if desired.
  • This chowder is best enjoyed shortly after preparing it.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @SpiritedMorgan on Instagram and hashtag it #SpiritedRecipes

~ Adapted from Complete Slow Cooker Cookbook by Carol Heding Munson, pg. 33.

You May Also Enjoy These Posts...

Dairy-Free Creamy Avocado Pesto Zoodle Bowl
Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Avocado Quinoa Salad
Chocolate-Drizzled Matcha Energy Bites

Recipes Soups and Stews


2 Comments

About Spirited and then Some

I'm Morgan. A spirited, social chatterbox, small biz owner, and teacher. Lover of all things food. Think dip. Lover of all things family. Think K-Hubs, Toodlebug, and Twinkleberry. I'm so glad you found our spirited community.... Click Here to Read More

« Easy Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
5 Essential Food Photography Props »

Comments

  1. Monika says

    March 25, 2019 at 8:35 am

    *With scallops, it’s important to remove the side-muscle if you find any still attached. This is an important part of properly preparing scallops. I’m excited to try this recipe being that I hate potatoes and finally have a chowder recipe! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Spirited and then Some says

      March 28, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      Yes! Thank you for sharing such a great tip!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Greetings!

I'm Morgan. A spirited, social chatterbox, small biz owner, and teacher. Lover of all things food. Think dip. Lover of all things family. Think K-Hubs, Toodlebug, and Twinkleberry. I'm so glad you found our spirited community. Learn more…

Take a Stroll

my foodgawker gallery  my finding vegan gallery  
View my Tasty Kitchen Profile

Recent Posts

  • Rustic Farmhouse Classroom Decor
  • Apple Slice Charcuterie Board
  • Chocolate-Drizzled Matcha Energy Bites
  • How to Make Cauliflower Rice
  • Creamy Avocado Garlic Quinoa Bowls
  • Matcha Mango Smoothie

Categories

As Seen On

Pure Wow logo
Red Tricycle Logo
Yahoo! Lifestyle logo
Mom and daughters in front of Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas! | spiritedandthensome.com

Family

How to make 3-ingredient Fluffy Slime without borax! | spiritedandthensome.com

Kids’ Activities

Spirited Learning

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Family
  • Kids’ Activities
  • Resources
  • Photography Tips
  • Blogging Tips
  • Free Course
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT