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–+ servings

Corn Chowder

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Serves 6
Packed with corn and potatoes, this easy corn chowder recipe is hearty, comforting, and flavorful. I offer two variations below: a dairy-free version with raw cashews or a more traditional one with heavy cream. Both yield a delicious, creamy soup that I think you'll love!

Ingredients

  • 6 ears fresh sweet corn, husks and silks removed
  • 2 tablespoons butter or vegan butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 5 cups water
  • 4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Pinches of cayenne pepper
  • ⅓ cup raw cashews*
  • 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Chopped chives, for garnish
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Sour cream or vegan sour cream, optional, for serving

Instructions

  • Slice the kernels off the corn cobs, then use the back of a chef’s knife to scrape off the milky liquid that’s left on the cob. Snap the cobs in half and set aside.
  • Heat the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and red pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the garlic, then add the water, potatoes, Old Bay, salt, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, cayenne, several grinds of pepper, and the corn cobs. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Remove and discard the corn cobs and bay leaf. Add the corn kernels and milky corn liquid to the pot and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
  • Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a high-speed blender and add the cashews. Blend until creamy, then stir the mixture back into the soup. Stir in the lemon juice and season to taste.
  • Garnish with chives and serve with dollops of sour cream, if desired.

Notes

*For a more traditional corn chowder, skip the cashews. After you puree 2 cups of the soup, add it back to the pot along with ½ cup heavy cream. Stir in the lemon juice and simmer gently over very low heat, stirring often, for 5 minutes, or until the chowder thickens slightly and the raw cream flavor mellows. Season to taste and serve.