Damn, I'm a good wife! A few days ago, my husband dropped a few hints - Hiroshima-sized ones - that he would be tickled if a bowl of chicken and corn chowder dropped from the heavens into his eager hands. Ask and you shall receive. Okay, so maybe I felt the need to make up for the frequent accumulation of papers that I have squirreled away in various parts of our house. Not cool when your husband is neat as a pin on a clutter-phobe's pincushion. Or perhaps it's the guilt over smashing his beloved Red Tail Ale pint glass. Whatever it was, my infractions of the "live in harmony" law were pardoned after the first slurp of this creamy, aromatic soup.
This chowder is based off of a recipe from Cooking Light Magazine. Even after considerable changes, I believe we can still call it light. As my husband is rather fond of southwestern flavors and a little heat, I added a can of chiles and a pinch of cayenne pepper. The original recipe called for 2% milk. However, since there was none to be found in my fridge, I substituted skim milk. To make up for the richness lacking in skim milk, I added a can corn to accompany the whole kernels. Oh yeah, and I added an extra strip of bacon. No excuses required for that. The robust aroma gave way to an intensely satisfying soup that indulged my husband's craving and warmed us to our toes.
First, bacon is cooked in a large saucepan. Once crisp, the bacon is set aside for later garnishing. Bite-sized pieces of chicken and a mixture of vegetables, including onion, red bell pepper, and garlic are sauteed. Next, a can of green chiles is added for a boost of flavor and a little heat. Once chicken broth and potatoes are included, the soup simmers for about 20 minutes before the corn is stirred in.
To aid in the transition from soup to chowder, a slurry of milk and flour is added to the pot and the mixture is simmered for an additional 15 minutes. Right before serving, a handful of sharp Cheddar cheese and a pinch of cayenne pepper are thrown in to round of the flavors. The chowder is then ladled into bowls and garnished with chopped scallions, grated Cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. If desired, break some tortilla chips over each portion of soup.
What an easy, satisfying meal for any night of the week.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น