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All About Corn
Recipe
1 hr 15 min

Roasted Corn and Poblano Chowder

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Roasted Corn and Poblano Chowder
Author: Ashley Moore

Recipe By Ashley Moore

Published on August 3, 2024

A few simple tricks help us coax satisfying flavor from sweet fresh corn and spicy poblano chiles.

Time

1 hr 15 min

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Why This Recipe Works

For the best flavor, we charred the corn and poblano peppers under the broiler. To reinforce the sweet undertones of the corn, we turned to tortillas, which also helped thicken the chowder. After pureeing the components in the blender, we added a bit of lime juice for acidity and fresh cilantro to help round out the chowder’s overall flavors. Fried pieces of corn tortilla made the perfect garnish.

Ingredients

2 poblano chiles, stemmed, halved lengthwise, and seeded
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 ears corn, kernels cut from cobs (5 ¼ cups)
Salt and pepper
4 slices bacon, chopped fine
1 onion, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
7 cups chicken broth
1 pound red potatoes, unpeeled, cut into ½-inch chunks
¼ cup half-and-half
2 (6-inch) corn tortillas, torn into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro, plus leaves for serving
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving
Sour cream
Crumbled queso fresco

Instructions

Cook along with these step-by-step instructions

step 1 imagestep 2 imagestep 3 imagestep 4 image
  1. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Toss poblanos with 1 teaspoon oil in bowl. Arrange poblanos cut side down in single column flush against short side of sheet.
  2. Toss corn, remaining 2 teaspoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in now-empty bowl. Spread corn in even layer on remaining portion of sheet next to poblanos. Broil until poblanos are mostly blackened and corn is well browned and tender, 10 to 15 minutes, flipping poblanos and stirring corn halfway through broiling.
    Recipe Tip
    Don’t substitute frozen corn for fresh. Because it is parcooked, frozen corn won’t release the starchy liquid that flavors and thickens the soup.
  3. Place poblanos in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove skins and chop poblanos into ½-inch pieces; transfer to clean bowl and set aside.
  4. Meanwhile, cook bacon in Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel–lined plate. Add onion and ¼ teaspoon salt to fat left in pot and cook until onion is softened and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  5. Add broth, potatoes, browned corn, and ½ teaspoon salt to Dutch oven and bring to simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Cook at vigorous simmer until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half-and-half.
  6. Transfer 2 cups chowder to blender. Add tortillas and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Return pureed chowder to pot and stir in chopped poblanos. Return to medium heat and bring to simmer. Stir in minced cilantro, lime juice, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¾ teaspoon pepper. Serve, passing bacon, cilantro leaves, lime wedges, sour cream, and queso fresco separately.
    Recipe Tip
    In addition to the usual garnishes, you can serve the chowder with our Fried Corn Tortilla Pieces, if desired.

My Rating

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Roasted Corn and Poblano Chowder

Recipe By Ashley Moore

Published on August 3, 2024

Time

1 hr 15 min

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Roasted Corn and Poblano Chowder

Ingredients

2 poblano chiles, stemmed, halved lengthwise, and seeded1 tablespoon vegetable oil6 ears corn, kernels cut from cobs (5 ¼ cups)Salt and pepper4 slices bacon, chopped fine1 onion, chopped fine2 garlic cloves, minced7 cups chicken broth1 pound red potatoes, unpeeled, cut into ½-inch chunks¼ cup half-and-half2 (6-inch) corn tortillas, torn into 1-inch pieces1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro, plus leaves for serving1 tablespoon lime juice, plus lime wedges for servingSour creamCrumbled queso fresco

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Toss poblanos with 1 teaspoon oil in bowl. Arrange poblanos cut side down in single column flush against short side of sheet.
  2. Toss corn, remaining 2 teaspoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in now-empty bowl. Spread corn in even layer on remaining portion of sheet next to poblanos. Broil until poblanos are mostly blackened and corn is well browned and tender, 10 to 15 minutes, flipping poblanos and stirring corn halfway through broiling.
    Recipe Tip
    Don’t substitute frozen corn for fresh. Because it is parcooked, frozen corn won’t release the starchy liquid that flavors and thickens the soup.
  3. Place poblanos in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove skins and chop poblanos into ½-inch pieces; transfer to clean bowl and set aside.
  4. Meanwhile, cook bacon in Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel–lined plate. Add onion and ¼ teaspoon salt to fat left in pot and cook until onion is softened and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  5. Add broth, potatoes, browned corn, and ½ teaspoon salt to Dutch oven and bring to simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Cook at vigorous simmer until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half-and-half.
  6. Transfer 2 cups chowder to blender. Add tortillas and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Return pureed chowder to pot and stir in chopped poblanos. Return to medium heat and bring to simmer. Stir in minced cilantro, lime juice, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¾ teaspoon pepper. Serve, passing bacon, cilantro leaves, lime wedges, sour cream, and queso fresco separately.
    Recipe Tip
    In addition to the usual garnishes, you can serve the chowder with our Fried Corn Tortilla Pieces, if desired.
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