Cha Cha Chowder

By Cubby

Ingredients

• 8 cups vegetable stock
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ears corn, kernels removed (about 6 cups)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 poblano peppers, stems, seeds and ribs removed, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
• 12 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes (skins on), diced into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1 cup half-and-half
• Smoked paprika, for garnish
• Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped, for garnish

Details

Servings 7
Preparation time 100mins
Cooking time 160mins
Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a large pot, combine the vegetable stock, thyme, bay leaf, and some salt and pepper. With the back of a bench scraper, scrape the "milk" from the cobs into the pot. Then add the cobs to the pot as well. Simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and remove the cobs, bay leaf and thyme. This is your corn stock.

In another large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the poblanos and onions, and sweat until soft, about 15 minutes. Slowly add the corn stock, then the corn kernels and the potatoes, and simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Check the seasoning and adjust.

Transfer half of the soup to a blender and carefully blend until smooth. Pour this back into the pot and add the half-and-half. Thin the soup with additional water, if desired.

Garnish with a couple pinches of smoked paprika and some chopped cilantro.