Description
Rich Sweet Corn and Shrimp Chowder combines coastal flavors with summer’s freshest ingredients. Creamy New England-style soup delivers hearty comfort through carefully balanced seafood and corn kernels.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cups sweet corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 4 cups chicken or seafood broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Butter Infusion: Melt butter in a spacious pot over medium heat until it becomes golden and aromatic.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté onions until translucent, then add garlic, stirring quickly to prevent scorching and release its intense flavor profile.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold in potatoes and sweet corn kernels, creating a robust foundation for the chowder, coating them in the buttery essence.
- Liquid Transformation: Pour broth and introduce smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly throughout the mixture.
- Simmering Stage: Allow the chowder to gently bubble, enabling potatoes to soften and vegetables to absorb the rich, seasoned liquid for 15-20 minutes.
- Seafood Poaching: Introduce raw shrimp, letting them delicately cook in the simmering broth until they turn a blush pink and become perfectly opaque.
- Creamy Finale: Reduce heat and swirl in cream, creating a luxurious, velvety texture while fine-tuning seasonings with a hint of cayenne for subtle heat.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the maritime-inspired chowder into serving bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and accompany with crusty artisan bread or crisp oyster crackers.
Notes
Prevent Shrimp Overcooking: Add shrimp during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking to ensure they remain tender, succulent, and perfectly opaque without turning rubbery or tough.
Flavor Layering Technique: Sauté onions and garlic slowly to develop a deep, rich base that enhances the overall complexity of the chowder’s taste profile.
Potato Texture Control: Cut potatoes into uniform small cubes to guarantee even cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
Dairy Sensitivity Modification: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or almond cream for a dairy-free version that maintains the chowder’s luxurious, creamy consistency while catering to dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg