Corn and Cheddar Cheese Chowder

Recipe by The View From the Great Island

Corn and Cheddar Cheese Chowder is a comforting cheesy soup perfect for the first chilly days of fall. use fresh corn when in season, and frozen during the rest of the year.

Ingredients

• 3 medium white thin skinned potatoes (diced)
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ tsp dried sage
• ½ tsp Cumin seeds
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 ears of corn ( kernels removed)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 2 tbsp flour (leave out for gluten free)
• splash of dry white wine
• 1¼ cups cream (or half and half)
• 1½ cups sharp white cheddar cheese (grated)
• ¼ tsp fresh grated nutmeg
• fresh cracked black pepper to taste
• Fresh chopped parsley
• fresh chives

Method

1. In a small saucepan, place the potatoes, bay leaves, sage, cumin seed and salt. Add water to just barely cover the potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are mostly cooked but still firm. They will continue cooking in the soup. Add a little more water if the level sinks too low.
2. In a stock pot or soup pan, melt the butter and saute the onions until they are softened. Add the flour and cook for a minute. Add the splash of wine and continue to cook until the liquid has evaporated. Whisk in the cream, making sure to get all the flour and onions off the bottom of the pan and incorporated into the cream.
3. Add the potatoes and their water along with the corn kernels. Add the nutmeg and pepper and bring it up to a simmer. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until the corn is tender. Stir often and make sure it doesn't boil furiously. It should be kept at a gentle simmer.
4. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the chopped parsley and chives. Take off the heat, add the cheese and stir until it is melted. It is important to taste the soup now and adjust the seasonings. Serve the soup garnished with a little more chopped chives.

View the recipe instructions at The View From the Great Island