Monday is never a great day (being the first day back at work) and it was a cold, wet and windy one here in Wellington too. After getting the shopping done and hanging around 30 minutes for my lift, I felt like something to warm me up, so decided on corn chowder with a bit of bite to it. Best of all it takes almost no effort or time.
Ingredients
Corn (frozen is fine, fresh is great if you have it and can be bothered shucking it)
Scallions (3-4, depends on the amount of corn)
Garlic
Bacon
Garlic
Chicken Stock (from that roast you had)
Salt & Pepper
Chilli (I used a bit of hot sauce, but hot paprika or chilli powder would work great)
Method
There are two ways you can do this, blend first or afterwards, I find doing it first quicker and a bit less messy. So in a blender place garlic, corn, scallions, and chilli. Blend, but not too much you want a couple whole pieces not a puree.
Tip corn mixture in to a pot and add the chicken stock till you have a thick consistency and add a little bit more (the corn will thicken it, and some will evaporate off), turn it on to a medium heat to get it simmering and leave for about 10 minutes.
Get your bacon, either frying, under the grill or microwave, whatever your preferred method is, and cook it till it's nice a crispy, then cut in to strips and place a nice clump at the bottom of each bowl (save some for garnish).
Once the chowder is cooked, ladle a good portion in to bowls top with some bacon strips (I love adding a bit of crumbled blue cheese to the top of mine). Serve with a nice piece of crusty bread.
It's a very satisfying soup and can certainly warm you up. enjoy.
