Creamy Corn and Potato Chowder

By mytastytreasures

Tasty, creamy vegetable soup.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 pound small potatoes, cut into small chunks
• 4 to 5 large ears corn, kernels scraped from the cobs, or one 10-ounce box frozen corn
• 1 medium or 2 small zucchini, finely chopped
• 5 to 6 sprigs thyme or 2 tsps dried
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3 tablespoons flour
• One 32-ounce container (4 cups) chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• Salt and pepper
• Hot pepper sauce
• Oyster crackers or popcorn, to pass around the table

Preparation

Step 1

1.In a medium soup pot, heat the EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp at the edges. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the potatoes, corn, zucchini, thyme, bay leaf and paprika and cook for 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour into the pot, stir and cook for 1 minute. Gradually stir in the broth and simmer until thickened a bit. Stir in the milk, cream and parsley and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 8 minutes.

2.Season the corn choup to taste with salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce and serve with crackers or popcorn to float on top.