Mark Bittmans Summer Corn Chowder Recipes

SUMMER CORN CHOWDER WITH SCALLIONS BACON & POTATOES

Steps:

• Cut corn off the cobs, save two cobs.
• When slicing scallions, be sure to keep the dark green part separated from the white and light green, you will use all the onion.
• Cook bacon in a 3-4 quart saucepan over medium heat until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
• Pour off and discard all but about 1 TBS of the bacon fat.
• Return the pan to medium heat and add the butter.
• When butter is melted, add the white and light green scallions and the jalapeño, salt, and a few grinds of the black pepper.
• Cook stirring until the scallions are very soft, about 3 minutes.
• Add the broth, corn, corn cobs, potatoes, and thyme and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are completely tender, about 15 minutes.
• Discard the corn cobs.
• Transfer 1 cup of the broth and vegetables to a blender and puree. Return the puree to the pot and stir in the cream and all but 1/3 cup of the scallions and blend the flavors.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and served sprinkled with bacon and reserved scallions.

SUMMER CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion and bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until onion has softened and is just starting to brown around edges (about 8 to 10 minutes).
• Add the flour and garlic and cook 1 1/2 minutes.
• While whisking, slowly pour in 5 cups water. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then stir in corn kernels and potatoes.
• Add thyme and bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove bay leaf and transfer 2 1/2 cups of chowder to a blender and blend until smooth (I skipped this step and left mine chunky).
• Stir the mixture back into the pot and add half and half and honey. Sprinkle each serving with chives and optional cheddar.

THE MINIMALIST'S CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Shuck the corn and use a paring knife to strip the kernels into a bowl. Put the cobs in a pot with 4 cups water; bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, put the butter or oil in a saucepan and turn the heat to medium-high. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, add the onion and potatoes, along with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes; add the tomatoes if you're using them and cook, stirring, for another minute or two.
• 3. After the corn cobs have cooked for at least 10 minutes, strain the liquid into the onion-potato mixture. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down so the mixture simmers. When the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes, add the corn kernels and milk and heat through. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, garnish with the parsley, and serve.
• Keys To Success
• STRIP THE KERNELS from the cob with a sharp knife, and make sure to catch any liquid that seeps out during the process.
• TO MINIMIZE COOKING TIME, chop the potatoes into 1/4-inch pieces. Leave them larger if you're not in a hurry.
• AS LONG AS your corn is young and tender, the kind you can just about eat raw, the kernels should be held out of the mix until the chowder is just about ready, so they don't overcook. But the new supersweet hybrids, which retain much of their flavor in the refrigerator for a few days, are not as tender, and their kernels should be cooked for a few minutes at least. Just keep tasting and stop cooking when the texture seems right.

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.