Roasted Corn Chowder with Chicken & Cilantro

An easy family favorite- my roasted corn chowder with tender pieces of chicken, a dash of fresh lime juice and mild green chiles- is a perfect recipe for early fall. Because nothing is quite as sweet as savoring the last fresh corn of the season. And the perfect accent to these southwestern flavors? Cilantro. (As always, if you don't care for cilantro, just leave it out. Or use basil. And while we're talking changes, if you're not a fan of coconut milk and you'd rather use traditional moo cow milk in your chowder, Darling, feel free.)

Note: This recipe was originally entered into Kalyn's Kitchen Weekend Herb Blogging event: Your Favorite Herb. I've since updated the recipe, and it's better than ever.



Roasted Corn Chowder with Chicken & Cilantro

Mornings by the mesa have been brisk and bright. These first few clear-as-a-bell days of fall always put me in the mood for soup. Harvest time is precious. So take advantage of the dwindling corn harvest and make a big pot of our family's favorite- roasted corn chowder.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon curry or chili powder or paste, mild or hot, to taste
4-5 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, diced
3 ears of corn, roasted, kernels removed
1 large sweet potato, peeled, diced
1 14-oz can Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles
1 cup seeded, chopped fresh heirloom tomatoes- I used yellow and pink
4 oz. chopped roasted green chiles
1 quart vegetable broth
1 14-oz can coconut milk or plain hemp milk
2 rounded cups cooked chicken pieces
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
A quick drizzle of organic raw agave, to taste

To serve:

3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
Fresh lime juice from 2 limes

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and stir in the cumin and curry or chili powder; cook for one minute to infuse the oil with spice.

Add the chopped garlic and onion. Stir and cook for five minutes. Add the roasted corn, sweet potato, canned fire roasted tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, green chiles; stir for a minute. Add in the broth.

Cover and bring to a high simmer. Lower the heat and simmer gently, until the sweet potatoes are tender, about twenty minutes or so.

Add the coconut milk and cooked chicken pieces. Stir and season with sea salt and ground pepper; and add a drizzle of organic raw agave to taste. Heat through gently- please don't boil it.

Just before serving, add the chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice. Stir. Taste test. Adjust seasoning.

Note: The lime juice brightens the taste and accents the spice. Agave cools the hotness.

Garnish with a lime wedge and pass out the spoons. Slurp!


Serves 6-8.


Cook's Notes & Options:

• If you are using dairy instead of coconut or hemp milk, add a good splash of light cream to this recipe just before serving. This makes it a rich and super creamy chowder.

• Add some chipotle powder if you like your soups smoky and hot.
  

• Serve with warm corn tortillas, my Pueblo Bread or Pumpkin Corn Muffins.
  

• This soup was even better the next day.
  

• This chowder works well cooked slowly in a Crock Pot; add the coconut milk and cooked chicken 30 minutes before serving and heat through. Add the lime juice and cilantro just before serving.
  

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More soups to savor:

Check out Elise's Corn Chowder at Simply Recipes.

Try my Roasted Tomato Soup recipe here.

For something a little different, try my quick and easy Santa Fe Pumpkin Chowder.