This is my all time favorite corn chowder. Inspired from the Moosewood Cookbook. I think it is pretty much the same as the original recipe. Best served with real cornbread on the side or underneath! It's much easier to use a hand blender rather than a stand-up blender. Just be careful about splashing hot soup or chopping of a finger.
Course
Soup
Ingredients
1cuponionchopped
4clovesgarlicminced
3tablespoonsbutter or 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1teaspooncoriander seedground
1teaspooncumin seedground
1tablespoonchileminced (or to taste), can also use 1 tsp crushed red chili
1 1/2cupsfresh tomatoeschopped (or 1 can crushed tomatoes)
2cupspotatoesdiced (leave on skin, much faster)
1bell pepperchopped (a combination of colored ones is nice)
2cupsvegetable stock
2 1/2cupscornfresh cut from the cob (or frozen)
1cupmilk
1/2cupmonterey jack cheesegrated
saltto taste
fresh ground black pepperto taste
Instructions
In a soup pot, saute the onions and garlic in the butter or oil on low heat for about 10 minutes, until the onions are very soft.
Add the coriander, cumin, and chiles; saute for 2 minutes.
Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they are juicy.
Add the potatoes, bell peppers and vegetable stock; cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the corn and heat thoroughly.
In a blender, puree about half of the soup with the milk and cheese.
Stir the puree back into the soup pot.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Heat slowly until the soup is hot but not boiling. Keep watch so that the soup doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.