Hearty Corn Chowder

 In
Category,

from the Chunky Chef online

Yields1 Serving
 5-8 slices bacon, diced
 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
 1 medium yellow onion, diced
 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 5 cups water - (chicken broth or vegetable broth may be substituted)
 8 ears yellow sweet corn - (husks and silks removed)
 1 lb. yukon gold or baby red potatoes - , sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
 1/4 tsp dried thyme
 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
 salt and black pepper, to taste
 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
 handful of chopped fresh chives
1

Slice corn kernels off the cob and set aside. Take each ear of corn and hold it over a bowl. Use either the back of your knife or a spoon and scrape any remaining pulp and juice from the cobs.

2

Cook bacon pieces in large heavy bottomed pot (like a dutch oven) over MED heat. Cook about 5-8 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.

3

Use a clean paper towel to absorb some of the bacon grease, reserving about 1 Tbsp of grease in the pot. Add butter and melt over MED heat.

4

Add diced onions and cook about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add garlic and flour and cook about 1 minute, stirring often.

5

While whisking, pour in water and increase heat to MED-HIGH. Add in corn, potatoes, thyme, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to MED-LOW and simmer.

6

Simmer, stirring every so often, for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender.

7

Use an immersion blender to blend about half the soup until smooth. Alternatively, remove about 3 cups of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth. Stir the blended soup back into the pot.

8

Add in half and half, reserved corn juice, and about half the chives. Stir in and heat through.

9

Serve sprinkled with remaining chives and cooked bacon pieces, if desired.

Ingredients

 5-8 slices bacon, diced
 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
 1 medium yellow onion, diced
 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 5 cups water - (chicken broth or vegetable broth may be substituted)
 8 ears yellow sweet corn - (husks and silks removed)
 1 lb. yukon gold or baby red potatoes - , sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
 1/4 tsp dried thyme
 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
 salt and black pepper, to taste
 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
 handful of chopped fresh chives

Directions

1

Slice corn kernels off the cob and set aside. Take each ear of corn and hold it over a bowl. Use either the back of your knife or a spoon and scrape any remaining pulp and juice from the cobs.

2

Cook bacon pieces in large heavy bottomed pot (like a dutch oven) over MED heat. Cook about 5-8 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.

3

Use a clean paper towel to absorb some of the bacon grease, reserving about 1 Tbsp of grease in the pot. Add butter and melt over MED heat.

4

Add diced onions and cook about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add garlic and flour and cook about 1 minute, stirring often.

5

While whisking, pour in water and increase heat to MED-HIGH. Add in corn, potatoes, thyme, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to MED-LOW and simmer.

6

Simmer, stirring every so often, for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender.

7

Use an immersion blender to blend about half the soup until smooth. Alternatively, remove about 3 cups of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth. Stir the blended soup back into the pot.

8

Add in half and half, reserved corn juice, and about half the chives. Stir in and heat through.

9

Serve sprinkled with remaining chives and cooked bacon pieces, if desired.

Hearty Corn Chowder