Sweet Corn Chowder with Bacon & Maple Syrup

Last summer Migliorelli Farm started freezing their excess produce and packaging it into one pound bags so that we would be able to savor their delicious sweet corn even in the middle of the winter.

I picked up a bag at the Rhinebeck WINTER Farmers’ Market and decided to make a batch of corn chowder. I absolutely love corn chowder but almost never feel like making soup when corn is in season in the middle of the summer heat. So, these frozen packets seem perfect to me.

Maple syrup is my secret ingredient. It provides the perfect balance to the heat of the chipotles.

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 Slices of Slab Bacon – diced
• 1 Large Onion – diced
• Kosher Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 4 Red Potatoes (about 1 pound) – peeled and diced
• 1 Quart Chicken Broth
• 1 Lb Corn Kernels
• 2 Cups Milk
• 1 Cup Cream
• 2 Tbsp Corn Flour (or Masa Harina)
• 1/4 Cup Water
• 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1 Tbsp Chipotle in Adobo

Directions:

Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 2-3 minutes allowing the fat to render. Add the onions, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Saute 3 minutes.

Add the potatoes and stir to coat. Then add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Simmer 15 minutes.

Add the corn, milk and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Raise the heat to medium and bring just barely to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Puree half of the soup. I use and emersion blender but you can also use a blender or a food processor and return the puree back to the pot.

Combine the corn flour and water to make a slurry. Add this to the soup along with the maple syrup and chipotle in adobo. Simmer another 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the amount of chipotle to the level of spice that you like.

Sources:

• Bacon – Northwind Farm 
• Onion – Rogowski Farm 
• Red Potatoes – Cowberry Crossing Farm
• Frozen Sweet Corn – Migliorelli Farm
• Milk and Cream – Ronnybrook Farm Dairy
• Corn Flour – Wild Hive Farm
• Maple Syrup – Oliverea Schoolhouse 

More seasonal recipes: at the farmers' market