Classic Corn Chowder Recipes

CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut kernels from cobs; set aside. Break cobs into thirds, and place in a medium saucepan. Add 3 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes to make a corn stock. Strain, discarding cobs; you should have about 2 cups.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a small bowl; set aside. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat. To the pan, add the onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the potato, corn kernels, 2 cups corn stock, milk, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, skimming foam as necessary, until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Taste, and adjust for seasoning. Sprinkle with reserved bacon.

CLASSIC CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute onion in butter until tender. Add the water, corn and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 16-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the milk, salt and pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with parsley.

CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Add the bacon to the bottom of a large heavy soup pot set over medium heat. Stir until the bacon is crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon. Add the butter and once melted, toss in the garlic, celery, carrots and onions, and saute until nice and tender, about 6 minutes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, and sprinkle in the flour and stir until light colored and pasty, another 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the chicken stock, and then stir in the corn, potatoes and thyme, and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes and corn kernels until just tender, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Pour in the milk and simmer for 20 minutes more. Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly before serving.

CHEDDAR CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. (If using frozen corn you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon.

BASIC CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Shuck corn, and use a paring knife to strip kernels into a bowl. Put cobs in a pot with 4 cups water; bring to a boil, cover and simmer while you continue.
• Put butter or oil in a saucepan, and turn heat to medium-high. When butter melts or oil is hot, add onion and potatoes, along with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion softens, about 5 minutes; add tomatoes and cook, stirring, for another minute or two.
• After corncobs have cooked at least 10 minutes, strain liquid into onion-potato mixture; bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. When potatoes are tender, add corn kernels and milk, and heat through. Taste, and adjust seasonings. Garnish with the parsley, and serve.

CLASSIC SLOW COOKER CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Stir milk, cream-style corn, cream of mushroom soup, chopped green chiles, frozen corn, hash brown potatoes, ham, onion, butter, hot sauce, parsley, and chili powder in a slow cooker. Season with salt and black pepper. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or on Low and for 6 hours.

OLD-FASHIONED CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut the kernels from the ears of corn. (I know that cutting kernels from corn can be somewhat of an awkward job. Here's a TIP on how to steady the cob and keep the kernels from flying all over the place, all the while maneuvering a sharp knife: Cut the cob in half crosswise (NOT lengthwise), then stand on its flat, cut end. Using a chef's knife, cut the kernels off the ear, one side at a time.) Reserve the kernels and the cobs separately.
• Puree the drained, canned corn and 2 cups of the chicken broth in a blender until smooth.
• Cook the chopped bacon in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve. Cook the chopped onion, fresh corn kernels, salt, and pepper in the bacon fat until the vegetables soften and turn golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, corn puree, remaining 3 cups of chicken broth, and the reserved corncobs to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Discard the cobs and stir in the the heavy cream, scallions, and reserved bacon. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste and serve. (The chowder can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days).