Southwestern Chowder Food

SOUTHWESTERN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook chicken and onion in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the broth, corn and picante sauce and cumin. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in peppers and cilantro. , Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Spoon into bowls; top with cheese if desired.

SOUTHWESTERN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell pepper, and jalapeño and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not brown. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Add the broth, 1 cup of the milk, salt, cumin, coriander, and potatoes; bring to a boil. The soup will seem thick; that's okay. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring once halfway through so the potatoes don't stick to the bottom of the pan, until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes (if your potatoes are not tender at this point, just continue simmering until they are).
• Meanwhile, in a blender, puree the remaining 1 cup of milk with 1 cup of the corn until smooth.
• Add the milk and corn mixture to the soup along with the remaining 2 cups of corn; simmer until hot. Off the heat, stir in the sour cream, scallions, and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with lime wedges.
• Note: I like this soup a little spicy, so I mince about half of the jalapeño's seeds and ribs and toss them in with the onions and peppers. If you'd like more control over the heat, you can add cayenne pepper at the end, to taste, or offer hot sauce at the table.
• Note: To scrape the corn from the cobs, place the corn on a clean dish towel set over a cutting board, then use a serrated knife to cut the kernels of the cobs. (The dish towel prevents the kernels from bouncing all over the place.) Alternatively, you can invert a small bowl inside a larger bowl. Hold the cob upright on top of the inverted small bowl, with the flatter end of the cob down, and use a sharp knife to slice downward as close to the cob as possible.
• Make-ahead Instructions: Before adding the sour cream, scallions, and cilantro, the soup can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and refrigerated. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, and proceed with the recipe.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over medium-high heat add the olive oil and diced chicken, season with salt and pepper and cook until cooked through until chicken is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Once chicken is done cooking, transfer to a bowl or plate and set aside.
• In the same pot, reduce heat to medium and add in onion, garlic, poblano, red bell pepper, potatoes and corn and saute for 6-8 minutes or until potatoes start to soften a bit.
• Next stir in spices and cook for 30 seconds to release their flavors and aromas, then slowly stir in the milk, broth and yogurt (or sour cream), scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan as you stir. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and gently simmer for 10-15 minutes uncovered or until the potatoes are tender and can easily be pierced with a fork.
• To give a creamy texture, blend approximately half of the soup (BE CAREFUL WHILE DOING THIS!) then return to the pot. Stir to incorporate and then taste and adjust seasonings -- adding in more salt and pepper if necessary. You can blend more if you like a creamier soup, but I love a little texture. Finally stir in the chicken, black beans and lime juice.
• To serve, garnish with shredded cheese, scallions, cilantro, avocado and a swirl of sour cream (if not vegan). Makes 6 servings.

SOUTHWESTERN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add white part of scallion, carrot, chili powder, and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until scallion is soft, about 2 minutes. Add potato, corn, broth, and milk.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until potato is easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in green part of scallion, and season with salt and pepper.

SOUTHWESTERN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
• Put the oiled corn on a baking sheet and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Put the oiled tomatoes on another baking sheet and roast them both for 10 to 12 minutes until the tomato skin blisters and the corn is lightly browned. In a medium skillet, grill the red pepper over medium-high heat until it is black on each side. Put the tomatoes and the pepper in the refrigerator, and peel them when they have cooled.
• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat and add the onion and garlic and saute. Add the flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock, roasted corn, peeled tomatoes, half-and-half, and 1 1/4 cups of the tortilla chip pieces and mix well. Pour this mixture in a food processor or blender* and puree until smooth. Strain the chowder, and then season it with cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper, to taste. Peel and dice the roasted red pepper. Serve the soup topped with diced avocado, red pepper, and the remaining tortilla chip pieces. Serve immediately.

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.

SOUTHWESTERN CHEESY CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut all vegetables to size-- I cut all of mine into approximately 1/2" pieces-- I found that it reduced the cooking time for them all to be similar in size.
• In soup pot, melt 2 T butter and brown the ground turkey.
• Add garlic& sauté until done.
• Add onions, green& red peppers, and zucchini-- sauté a few minutes until vegetables are limp.
• Stir in 1 T butter& flour.
• Add chicken stock, peas, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, salt, sage, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce,& black pepper.
• Bring to boil-- Reduce heat to simmer.
• Cover & let cook until all vegetables are tender, (approx 25 minutes).
• Ladle 2 cups of soup into mixing bowl-- SLOWLY stir in the half & half to prevent it from separating.
• Pour it SLOWLY back into soup pot, stirring frequently.
• Add both cheeses-- stir until cheese is melted and chowder is thickened.
• Taste & adjust salt/pepper if needed.

SOUTHWESTERN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Mix broth, salsa, beans and corn in 3-quart saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
• Add macaroni , zucchini and cumin; return to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 6 minutes or until macaroni is tender.
• Spoon into 4 soup bowls; top each serving with 2 Tbsp. cheese. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

SOUTHWESTERN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a 3 quart saucepan, cook chicken and onion in oil until chicken juices run clear. Stir in cumin. Add broth, corn, and picante sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in peppers and cilantro.
• Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Spoon into bowls; top with cheese if desired.

SOUTHWESTERN SPICY CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Melt butter with olive oil in pot.
• Add celery, bell pepper and onion.
• Cook for 5 minutes.
• Add hash browns, corn, and green chilis.
• Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Combine all dry ingrediants.
• Add to pot and stir for 1 minute constantly.
• Add chicken stock and bring to boil.
• Reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add cream and let simmer 2 more minutes stirring frequently.
• Ready to serve.
• Add bacan bits to chowder for a little added flavor and to take a little of the heat off.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a pressure cooker, saute bacon until crisp.
• Add oil, onion, garlic and chicken. Saute 3 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, salsa, peppers, carrots, chicken broth, salt, red pepper flakes and hot pepper sauce.
• Close pressure cooker and heat on high to develop maximum pressure. Reduce heat to maintain pressure and cook 6 minutes, then release pressure. Remove the chicken and cut it into bite-size pieces.
• Add chicken, corn, cilantro and sherry to the soup. Bring to a simmer and cook 2 minutes. Combine flour and butter into a paste, then add it one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the soup is creamy. Cook 1 more minute. Add half-and-half and mix thoroughly.
• If not using a pressure cooker, you will need to cook for a longer time, though I have not tested the recipe this way.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, saute the sweet onions in butter or olive oil until they begin to turn translucent and fragrant.
• Add the chicken broth, potatoes, oregano, poultry seasoning, chili powder, salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bring to a low boil and simmer about ten minutes, until potatoes are just barely tender. Add the corn and simmer until corn is heated through.
• Remove about 1-1/2 cups of the chowder and puree in a blender or food processor. Return puree to the chowder and add green chiles and chicken. Simmer about 5 minutes to cook chicken. Add cream and shredded cheese. Stir until incorporated and cheese has melted. Gently stir in hot sauce and cilantro.
• Serve in bread bowls with additional shredded cheese and cilantro for garnish.
• Yield: about 6 servings.