Does he want traditional fish chowder?

All of the different types of milk will very much alter the taste. Lots of seafood soups with other milks are delicious but are totally different from fish chowder.

I’d use oat milk and blend some of the potatoes with it to make it thicker.

what about cutting the sweetness of the coconut milk with lime like a Thai soup?

or, non-dairy, Pareve creamer from the kosher market?

Personally I would add full fat oatmilk. It's going to give it that creamy taste without the recognizable taste of coconut that you would get from coconut milk.

I made a shrimp stew/soup with pumpkin puree, coconut milk (low fat), chicken broth, and tons of fresh finely chopped ginger. It will not be fish chowder that tastes like chowder but is dairy free but it will be good.

There actually are different kinds of chowder: incredibly dairy based, tomato based and broth based. You can probably make it with clam broth instead of half and half, but it will be a complete different dish. I’d probably are two pots — clam broth for him and half and half for everyone else.

Oat milk is great in soups. You may also be able to find unsweetened oat creamer.

Anonymous wrote:I have seen like Thai style fish soups with coconut milk so I think that would work. But if you don’t like coconut I would just try a different recipe. The whole concept behind chowder is dairy. Make a bouillabaisse or ciopinno or that Portuguese/Spanish style dish soup instead.

DH wants the chowder bent to his will - thanks for this explanation.

Anonymous wrote:Coconut milk will have its own taste. It’s not an exact substitute but you can try. Or you can make a coconut milk-based fish soup like this one. I add the lime juice at the end, not while the soup is being simmered.
https://kimberlyraymond.com/blogs/blog/coconut-lime-fish-soup?srsltid=AfmBOoqUwpyZm5uVdhQbbK29jxE8HnBl1nc-Rr_6RHGs_4VidCFPxkqB

That looks amazing - TY!

I have seen like Thai style fish soups with coconut milk so I think that would work. But if you don’t like coconut I would just try a different recipe. The whole concept behind chowder is dairy. Make a bouillabaisse or ciopinno or that Portuguese/Spanish style dish soup instead.

Coconut milk will have its own taste. It’s not an exact substitute but you can try. Or you can make a coconut milk-based fish soup like this one. I add the lime juice at the end, not while the soup is being simmered.
https://kimberlyraymond.com/blogs/blog/coconut-lime-fish-soup?srsltid=AfmBOoqUwpyZm5uVdhQbbK29jxE8HnBl1nc-Rr_6RHGs_4VidCFPxkqB

DH does not consume milk, half-and-half, etc. NYT has a good, quick fish chowder recipe today, but calls for half. What can I substitute? He balks at non-dairy options. Will coconut milk skew the taste? I'm not a fan of a sweet-ish dish when it would normally be more savory.

TIA.