Spinach Chowder Recipes

SPINACH AND CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Over medium high heat, cook chopped bacon in olive oil until crisp, remove and set aside.
• Saute onion, green pepper, garlic and dried peppers (if using) in left over oil until soft but not brown (3-5 minutes).
• Reduce heat to medium, add flour and whisk to form roux; cook roux until slightly toasty - do not let brown (3 minutes).
• Add stock or water 2 cups at a time, whisking to prevent lumps.
• Add corn, spinach and butter; simmer 10 minutes.
• Add milk, cream, reserved bacon bits and seasonings to taste, stir and simmer 5-10 additional minutes.
• **Optional** If soup is not thick enough, dissolve cornstarch in cold water, then add to soup and stir until thickened.

HAM, POTATO, CORN AND SPINACH CHOWDER

Steps:

• melt about 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan (real butter is sooo much better than margarine, trust me on this).
• add in about a teaspoon of onion flakes to rehydrate and soften.
• when the butter gets a bit brown add 2 tablespoons of flour.
• whisk together until you have "cooked" the flour (about 30 seconds).
• add 2 cups of milk and whisk until smooth.
• add a cup of chicken broth. I actually used chicken bouillon because that is what I had.
• add one heaping tablespoon of greek sour cream (see notes about using regular sour cream instead).
• Add 2 nuggets of chopped frozen spinach.
• let simmer on low while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• add a couple shakes of garlic powder.
• I put in A LOT of black pepper but do it to your taste.
• Add dill to taste as well, I used dry because that is what I had, but fresh would be super good.
• Chop up about 2 cups of ham into bite sized pieces.
• open the corn and drain.
• peel one big left over baked potato and chop into bite sized pieces.
• Add all the ham, potato and corn.
• Taste and add extra dill, pepper if desired. I added another tablespoon of sour cream because I thought it would taste good.
• Let simmer until all the ingredients are hot and the spinach is dispersed throughout.
• and eat!

QUINOA CORN AND SPINACH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Simmer the quinoa in 7 cups boiling water for 10 minutes.
• While the quinoa is cooking, slice off the top half of the corn kernels, then reverse your knife and press out the milk with the dull edge running down the length of the cobs. Set aside.
• Drain quinoa, but reserve liquid.
• Heat the oil in a 3-quart saucepan with garlic and chile, cook for about 30 seconds over medium heat, then add the cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, and the potatoes.
• Measure 6 cups of the quinoa-cooking water and add it to the pot. Bring to a boil, then add the quinoa and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the corn and its scrapings.
• Turn off the heat, taste for salt, and season the soup with pepper.
• Add the cheese, then stir in the spinach and the green onions. As soon as the spinach is wilted, after 2-3 minutes, serve the soup, garnished with the cilantro and hard-boiled egg if you're using it.