Chilled Cream Of Corn Soup With White Truffle Oil Recipes

CHILLED CORN SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the corn: Hold an ear of corn upright with one end on the cutting board and the other in your non-cutting hand. Use a sharp knife to shave off the kernels in rows from the cob. Rotate the corn and cut close enough to the core so that the kernels remain relatively whole, but not so closely that you end up taking fibrous pieces of the cob with you. Repeat with all of the corn. Gather the kernels in a bowl and reserve the cobs.
• Start the soup: Combine half the olive oil and all the scallions with a generous pinch salt and 1/4 cup water in a large saute pan and cook over medium-low heat until they are translucent and tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Cook the corn: Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the same saute pan and add all the corn kernels. Season with salt, then stir in the brown sugar and a generous pinch black pepper. Cook over medium heat until the corn becomes tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Finish: Bring the half-and-half and 1 cup water to a gentle simmer in a medium pot over medium heat and add the cobs. Simmer the cobs gently on low heat until they impart their corn flavor to the half-and-half, 12 to 15 minutes. Discard the cobs. Add the Worcestershire and hot sauce and stir to combine. Add the cooked corn and scallions to the pot and simmer on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
• Puree half of the liquid and corn in the blender until smooth and pour back into the rest of the soup. Refrigerate until fully cold, at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Serve: Whisk to blend so some of the remaining corn lands in each bowl as you serve the soup. Taste for seasoning. Ladle into the bowls.

CHILLED CREAM OF CORN SOUP WITH WHITE TRUFFLE OIL

Steps:

• Cut corn kernels from cobs. Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Add corn kernels, 6 cups water and wine. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 2 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Strain through fine sieve into large bowl. Cool. Add half and half. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until cold, at least 4 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with chives. Drizzle truffle oil over, if desired.
• *Available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.