Corn Chowder Cuban Style Food

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 just starting to brown around edges, about 8 - 10 minutes.
• Add in the flour and garlic and cook 1 1/2 minutes. While whisking, slowly pour in 5 cups water or broth.
• Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then stir in corn kernels and potatoes. Add in 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 leave then transfer 2 1/2 cups of the chowder to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Stir the mixture back into the pot then stir in half and half and honey. Sprinkle each serving with chives and optional cheddar.

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.

CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme and cook until the vegetables are good and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Dust the vegetables with flour and stir to coat everything well. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add the cream and the potatoes, bring to a boil and boil hard for about 7 minutes, until the potatoes break down (this will help to thicken the soup and give it a good texture).
• Cut the corn kernels off the cob and add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the corn is soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the parsley and give it another little drink of olive oil. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

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.

CORN CHOWDER, CUBAN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy bottomed 6 quart pot. Brown pork cubes. Add chopped onion, garlic, bay leaves, and tomato sauce. Cover and simmer until pork is tender. Add broth, potatoes, squash, and ham. When potatoes and squash are tender, add canned corn and fresh corn. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently so corn will not stick to the bottom of the pan. Salt and pepper to taste.
• This chowder can be made hours before serving.

CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a kettle cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until it is crisp and golden and with a slotted spoon transfer it to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the kettle and in the remaining fat cook the onion over moderate heat, until soft. Add the potato, peeled, diced fine, stock, and water. Add the corn, cut from the cobs, the bell pepper, the jalapeno, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer the chowder for 1 hour. In a blender puree 2 cups of the chowder, return it to kettle, and stir in the half and half. Serve immediately.

CORN CHOWDER WITH GARLIC CROûTONS

Steps:

• Heat butter in a pan, then cook onion, garlic, celery, pepper and potato for 5 mins. Stir in milk and stock, bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins. Stir in corn, cook for 3 mins, then add Tabasco and seasoning.
• For the croûtons, place the bread in a bowl with the garlic, oil and some salt, toss well. Heat a non-stick pan, then gently cook cubes until golden and crisp. Serve the soup topped with the chives and croûtons.