Summer Vegetable Chowder

Summer Chowder1 The Curvy Carrot

I’m completely pumped about my balcony tomato plants.  Finally..finally…they are starting to produce tomatoes.  It was funny because my parents came up to visit around Memorial Day weekend, and my mom and I bought the exact same plants.  She took hers down to Indiana, where they have been producing fruit for over a month now…and mine are just now doing so.  I’m blaming the incredibly mild Milwaukee summer we’ve had (although my air conditioner doesn’t mind…and neither does my bank account after paying my energy bills), but every single day, I walk out there to check on my little babies, urging them to get just a little bit redder and juicier so I can finally eat them with that fresh mozzarella I bought.

I’ve got various lines of basil and some kale growing, too, which is pretty much all the space I have for plants in a downtown spot.  I used the first bit of kale for this recipe, and I’m going to be using some more of it tonight….to make this recipe again.

I haven’t tried converting this to a vegan soup, but I think it can be done without a loss of flavor here (just omit the milk and substitute in vegetable broth).  I added in more vegetables to increase the nutritional content, including some red potatoes which, when pureed a bit, added to the creamy consistency that a chowder should (in my humble opinion) have.  Add in what you have on hand.  I’ve got an extra zucchini to use up, so that’s going in my second batch tonight.  The favor profile is great, and you can make this as creamy as you like-just puree a bit longer using either a blender or an immersion blender.

It’s filling, pretty healthy, and chock full of wonderful summer veggies.  Enjoy.

 

 Summer Chowder2The Curvy Carrot

 

 

Summer Vegetable Chowder

Servings: 6-8

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3/4 cup sliced green onions

3/4 cup chopped celery

1 medium yellow summer squash, chopped

2 medium red potatoes, chopped

2 cups (or more, if you like) fresh yellow corn kernels (I used two ears of corn), divided

1 and 1/4 cup milk (I used 1%)

1 cup vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, but it will give it a really good bacon-ish flavor)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups fresh kale leaves, torn and stems discarded

For garnish:  cheese, green onions, etc.

 

 Summer Chowder3 The Curvy Carrot

 

 

Instructions

1. In a Dutch oven or large sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering.

2. Add the green onions, celery, squash and potatoes, and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes.

3. Add 1 cup of the corn, mixing to combine.  Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.

4. Add in the milk, vegetable broth, paprika and salt, bringing the mixture to a boil.

5. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes.

6. Very carefully (and this is optional), using an immersion blender or a blender, puree the soup until you reach your desired consistency.

7.  Add in the remaining 1 cup of fresh corn kernels and the kale, stirring to combine.  Let cook until the kale has wilted a bit, about another 5 minutes or so.

8. Garnish as desired, and enjoy.

 

Source:  Adapted from Cooking Light, as part of my monthly contribution to the Cooking Light Bloggers’ Connection.

 

July 31, 2014 - 11:41 am

Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl - I am totally a soup-making kind of person even during the Summer. I am excietd to try this!

August 2, 2014 - 5:38 pm

Courtney - We have three tomato plants, and one of them just started producing fruit while the others have been doing so for several weeks. I think a pretty doe I saw in the yard has been eating them, too, but we’ve still had plenty to use. This soup looks fabulous. I’m planning on trying it soon since it’s supposed to be raining here for the foreseeable future, and nothing beats a nice bowl of soup on a rainy night!

August 5, 2014 - 11:49 am

Carol at Wild Goose Tea - I love soup year round. This is a PERFECT summer soup. We are so blessed to have so much produce either in our gardens or so readily available.

September 9, 2014 - 12:46 pm

Carol at Wild Goose Tea - I am a soup eater. I like the word chowder being associated with a veggie soup. Smiles. Wonderful use of those awesome veggies that are still flowing into our lives.

September 19, 2014 - 1:05 pm

Apple fritters Caramel Recipes - FoodFlav - Mmm vegetable chowder! Yummy 🙂 and because they’re whole Veggie…I can eat the whole stack, right?! Pinned!

October 28, 2014 - 1:59 pm

Jessamyn - I just thought about the fact that I hadn’t seen a post from you come up on my reader in a while! Wanted you to know you are missed! 🙂

November 17, 2014 - 10:06 am

Amy Lawson - Hey Shannon, hope all is well – miss hearing your thoughts & recipes.

November 17, 2014 - 11:23 am

Ashley - Greetings from Ohio! I noticed you haven’t posted recently and wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog and recipes – they are always so delicious! The pictures of the food are beautiful too.

November 20, 2014 - 2:24 pm

Rebecca - I miss your blog updates! Do you think you’ll come back to the blog at some point?
Thanks!

December 1, 2014 - 2:33 am

Alina - I hope everything is okay with you, we miss your blog! 🙂

December 10, 2014 - 9:51 pm

Colleen - Missing your posts and hoping all is well. Happy holidays!

January 5, 2015 - 7:40 pm

Lauren - Missing your recipes!

February 10, 2015 - 12:00 am

Matea - It’s so nice to see your plant producing its first veggies; it’s like a mini victory 🙂
This chowder looks delicious! Missing the summer fruits right now 🙂