Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder Food

POBLANO CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut up the potatoes and remove the kernels of corn from the cobs with a knife. Set aside in a large bowl, or wherever you have room. (I held the corn IN a bowl while I cut so the kernels didn't fly everywhere so much.).
• In a large pot (this recipe makes about 14 cups, so pretty large), boil the broth and the corn cobs together for about 15-20 minutes.
• Remove the cobs and let cool. Scrape the remaining corn bits into the pot of broth. You can use a butter knife or spoon. Let this pot rest for a moment.
• In a large skillet, melt butter or use non-fat cooking spray and saute the chopped onions and bell peppers until just tender.
• Add to this skillet the garlic and poblanos and continue to saute until poblanos are tender too.
• Dump the onion/pepper/garlic mixture into the broth pot. Add the chipotle(s) (whole so they can be removed if you like) and some of the adobo sauce (2 T. is a rough estimate).
• Bring to a boil and simmer about 5 minutes.
• Add potatoes and corn and simmer until potatoes are al dente ;) Maybe 20 minutes?.
• Turn off the heat. Add cream.
• Ladle about half of the soup into a blender (you may have to do this in batches) and blend with the cheese. (I do 2 batches, so I use half the cheese in the first batch and half in the second.).
• Call everyone to dinner.
• You can offer cilantro as a garnish (or even add a bit to the soup pot if everyone likes it.).

ROASTED POBLANO CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Blacken all sides of the poblano peppers under broil in the oven, roasting and turning them until each side is blackened. Place the peppers in a paper bag to sweat the skins. When they are cool, use your fingers or a paper towel to remove the skins and discard them. Cut the peppers in half, destem, and deseed. Roughly chop the peppers and set aside.
• In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, then add onion and saute until translucent. Add garlic and saute for a minute longer, then add potatoes, vegetable stock, cumin, thyme, and salt. Lower heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are soft but not falling apart. Add fresh corn, chopped poblano chilies, and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Blend the soup to make a thick base. I use an immersion blender. Stir in the half and half.
• Pour the soup into bowls. Top with pepper, cilantro, avocado, and lime slices.

CORN AND ROASTED POBLANO SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the milk, cumin seeds, bay leaves and rosemary in a medium saucepan. Place over low heat and bring nearly to a simmer. (Do not boil.) Remove from the heat and let sit 20 minutes to infuse.
• Heat the olive oil or butter in a large saucepan or stockpot over medium heat. Cook the onions with the salt until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the garlic and ground cumin and cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Then stir in the corn kernels and diced chilies and continue cooking over low heat 5 more minutes.
• Using your finest strainer, strain the infused herbal milk into the corn and chili mixture. Bring to a very slow simmer over low heat. Gently simmer 15 minutes.
• Pour one third of the soup into a food processor or blender and puree. Stir back into the soup pot. Serve hot with the chives as garnish.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN CHOWDER W/ ROASTED CORN AND POBLANO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Spread whole kernel corn one-layer deep over cookie sheet. Roast at 400 for approximately 15 - 20 minutes, until kernels brown slightly. Remove from pan; reserve. (If you prefer not to roast corn, that would be fine.).
• Peel potatoes and chop, about 3/4". Place in pot, cover with water plus one inch. Do not add salt. Cook through; when fork passes through potatoes easily, they are done. Drain and reserve.
• Heat oil in large stockpot over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, garlic, poblano peppers (see note #1 below), salt, white pepper, cumin, all chili powders or blends (see note #2 below), and thyme. Saute for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
• (**For a more creamy soup, when the veggies are tender, add a cup of chicken stock to mixture and transfer to blender. Puree and return to the pot. Alternatively, for half creamy/half chunky consistency, take half (or more, or less) the veggies, add the stock and puree, then return to pot.**).
• Stir in chicken bouillon (suggestion: do it by quarters and taste. Too much bouillon can add unneeded salt). Add (the rest of) the chicken broth, tomato sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, cilantro and corn and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the carrots are tender. After this, add potatoes and the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chowder is thick and the chicken and potatoes are heated through.
• Shortly before the chowder is done, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes to cook the flour. Do not allow the mixture to brown! Ladle 1 cup of the hot liquid from the stockpot into the skillet, whisking constantly.
• When the first cup of liquid is incorporated, add another 2 cups of liquid, 1 at a time. Pour the mixture in the skillet into the stockpot, whisking to blend. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes longer, or until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove pot from the heat. Stir in cream, blending, heating. Serve.
• note #1:Green poblanos are always cooked or roasted. Use broiler or gas oven. After 80% of the skin has blistered, place poblanos in brown paper bag for ten minutes. Then under cold running water rub off tough outer skin, seed and peel, then chop/dice.
• note #2: Canned chipotles work as well, simply mince them and add to soup according to desired heat. Dehydrated chipotles work too; grind them then add according to desired heat.
• note #3: Go slowly with nutmeg and cinnamon, as these are unique flavors. Some like more, some like less.
• note #4: Salt and pepper amounts listed are somewhat conservative. Adjust to your personal taste.

POBLANO CORN CHOWDER WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Chop onion, celery and poblano pepper.
• Melt butter (or heat oil) in stock pot or Dutch oven.
• Add onion, celery and poblano chilies and saute until soft, about 6 minutes.
• Add creamed corn, frozen corn, chicken broth (except reserved 1/4 cup), cream (or evaporated milk), sugar, red pepper, salt and pepper.
• Simmer 15 minutes to blend flavors.
• Mix 2 tbsp flour in reserved 1/4 cup chicken broth.
• Add to soup mixture, and stir.
• Add shrimp and cilantro.
• Simmer about 5 minutes longer, until shrimp are cooked, and serve.
• Pass the hot sauce.

POBLANO CORN CHOWDER WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, add the chicken breasts and 2 cups of water; bring to a boil and cook until chicken is tender; approximately 10 minutes.
• Shred the chicken reserving poaching liquid.
• Puree 2 cups of the corn kernels in a blender with the milk; set aside.
• In a soup pot, heat the olive oil; add the diced chilies, onion and garlic; sauté 4 to 5 minutes.
• Measure the poaching liquid and add enough water to make 2 cups, add to soup pot along with the chicken.
• Add remaining corn and seasonings bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in pureed corn, tomato and cheese; simmer to heat through and melt cheese, about 3 minutes.
• Ladle into servings bowls and garnish as desired.