The Best Corn Chowder Recipe (2024)

I think my favorite cooking and baking blog of all time has to be NatashasKitchen.com. Natasha is just the best cook and so many people rave about her awesome recipes. Most things are from scratch with real, whole ingredients. I think that is why her recipes are so awesome--when food is made from scratch with an extra dose of love you can just tell :)
Today I wanted to share one of my very favorite recipes of hers as we are nearing the end of summertime when fresh corn is abundant, whether in your garden or in the supermarket. I have posted before about Natasha’s deliciously sweet pressure cooker corn on the cob, which is kind of unique because she has you add heavy cream and butter right to the pot where it is cooking, which really draws out the natural sweetness of the corn. I highly recommend you check out that recipe on her blog if you want to try a different way to make corn on the cob.

The Best Corn Chowder Recipe (1)

Today’s recipe for this corn chowder is really cool because you of course use the fresh kernels from the corn, but you also use the stripped cobs to make a corn stock, which really allows you to get the most flavor from the corn on all sides. (if you happen to make her corn on the cob recipe where you cook it in the cream, I think with a bit of experimentation, this could be used as a base for this soup as well, since it has all that infused corn and cob flavor from pressure cooking the ears of corn).

The Best Corn Chowder Recipe (2)

The first step for the chowder is of course to shuck the corn and get the silk off. A little hack for getting the silk off the corn in just a few seconds is to simply use a clean toothbrush or other firm kitchen brush to gently brush the silk off the kernels. After the ears of corn are ready to go, cut the kernels from the cob and set aside. Place the stripped cobs in a stockpot with the cream, chicken broth and milk to simmer and create a beautiful, flavorful corn stock as you get the rest of the ingredients for the chowder ready. You will cook a few strips of bacon until they are crispy, then set aside. Sauté chopped carrots, onions and celery in the bacon fat until the onion is soft, about 7-8 minutes. Finally, add chopped potatoes, corn kernels, seasonings and the corn broth with the cobs removed to the stockpot and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Top with chopped bacon bits and chopped chives and voila!--best way to use fresh corn ever!
What is your favorite way to eat fresh corn on the cob? I mean, it’s really hard to beat regular corn on the cob with plenty of butter and salt, but I just really love a good chowder! This recipe is a perfect way to feed a crowd on a cool summer night.

The Best Corn Chowder Recipe (3)

This fresh corn chowder recipe is loaded with summer produce at its peak of freshness. This is a crowd-pleasing chowder that is perfect for entertaining on cool summer nights.Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Prep time:
Cook time:
Serving size: 8
Calories per serving: 251

Ingredients:
4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 cups corn kernels (from 4-5 ears corn) reserve cobs for stock
4 ounces (4 slices) bacon, chopped
1 large onion finely diced (1 1/2 cup)
1 large carrot cut into 1/4" dice (1 cup)
3 stalks celery finely diced (1 cup)
1 pound yukon potatoes 3 medium, peeled and cut into 1/4" thick pieces
2 3 teaspoons 2-3 sea salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
2 tablespoons chives chopped, to garnish

Directions:

How to Make Corn Stock:

Cut the kernels from the cobs and set kernels aside for making chowder.* Place the bare cobs in a stockpot.

Add 4 cups broth, 1 1/2 cups milk, and 1 cup cream to pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer un-covered 20 minutes while making the chowder. Use tongs to remove and discard cobs before using corn stock in step 3.

How to Make Corn Chowder:

Place a 5 Qt dutch oven over medium/high heat. Add chopped bacon and cook stirring occasionally until browned. Remove bacon bits with a slotted spoon and set aside.

In the same pot, add chopped onion, celery and carrot to the bacon fat and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft (7-8 min).

Add sliced potatoes, 4 cups corn kernels, 2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper. Pour corn stock into the pot, bring to a light boil then simmer uncovered 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste**. Ladle into bowls and garnish with reserved bacon and chopped chives.

Source: natashaskitchen.com


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The Best Corn Chowder Recipe (4)Mary Richardson
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Email the author! mary@dvo.com

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The Best Corn Chowder Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What two ingredients must be present for the soup to be called a chowder? ›

Chowder is a soup made with a liquid base of broth and thickened milk or cream featuring seafood or vegetables. Classic chowders are very thick and are often served with a garnish of crackers or hard biscuits.

How do I thicken my corn chowder? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

What ingredient does chowder always have? ›

Types. Chowder is a soup with cream or milk mixed with ingredients such as potatoes, sweet corn, smoked haddock, clams and prawns, etc. Some cream-style chowders do not use cream, and are instead prepared using milk and a roux to thicken them.

What makes chowder chowder instead of soup? ›

Soup: What's the Difference? While soups can be thin and light, a chowder is characterized by being rich and thick. Like stew, it contains large chunks of meat or seafood and vegetables, notably potatoes.

What is usually a main thickening agent of chowder? ›

A roux is the most common thickener for sauces and soups and comes in three colors and strengths: white, blond, and brown.

What are the best potatoes for chowder? ›

Russets or all-purpose baking potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture. In soups, they will soak up the liquid and lose their shape. This makes them the ideal choice for making creamy soups or thickening a runny soup. Try using Russet potatoes to create the perfect Loaded Potato Soup.

Will heavy cream thicken corn chowder? ›

However, chowder can also get a bad reputation due to the large amounts of butter, bacon, and heavy cream that are often used to thicken it and add flavor. As a result, it can be a super-rich dish.

Is it better to thicken chowder with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

How much cornstarch to add to chowder? ›

How Much Cornstarch to Thicken Soup? Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly.

What is the floating fart from chowder? ›

Chowder's best friend and pet, Kimchi is a floating stink cloud. Most people don't' want to be around him, but Chowder doesn't mind Kimchi's smell.

What can I use instead of cream in chowder? ›

Milk and cornstarch

To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.

What are the three types of chowder? ›

Many regional variations exist, but the three most prevalent are New England or "white" clam chowder, which includes milk or cream, Manhattan or "red" clam chowder, which includes tomatoes, and Rhode Island or "clear" clam chowder, which omits both.

Does chowder have to have potatoes in it? ›

Customarily, chowder included onion, potatoes, and cream. Nowadays, not all chowders adhere to these guidelines. New England Clam Chowder is sometimes made with milk, whereas Manhattan Clam Chowder doesn't have any milk or cream but has a tomato base instead.

What is a bisque vs soup? ›

Bisque Is Richer Than Soup

The complexity of flavors in a well-made soup is achieved through careful simmering, seasoning, and the interplay of diverse ingredients. In general, soup is thought of as an everyday dish, however, whereas bisque is more luxurious. Bisque takes a more refined approach to flavor.

Do all chowders have bacon? ›

Chowder is a soup that starts with salt pork or bacon, and a variety of vegetables including onions, celery, and potatoes. Most chowders have a thickened dairy base with one exception, which is the tomato-based Manhattan clam chowder.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

What defines a chowder? ›

: a soup or stew of seafood (such as clams or fish) usually made with milk or tomatoes, salt pork, onions, and other vegetables (such as potatoes) also : a soup resembling chowder.

What are the 2 basic categories of soup? ›

Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews. In traditional French cuisine, soups are classified into two main groups: clear soups and thick soups.

What are the two types of chowder? ›

New England clam chowder is thick, creamy, and milky-white. Manhattan clam chowder is tomatoey, brothy, and clear. Both types share a clean, briny, and slightly-sweet flavor thanks to the clams—but that's about it.

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