Southwestern Corn Chowder
This is a hearty and flavor-rich soup that's just creamy enough while still maintaining great texture! Serve with chips or a tortilla to change it up a bit!
Ingredients
- 1 strip of bacon per person to garnish (at last 6-8)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cups unpeeled cubed red potatoes (about 3 medium potatoes cut in ½” cubes peel if you want)
- 1 ¾- 2 cups diced green bell pepper (1 pepper diced small)
- 1 ½ cups yellow onion (1 medium onion)
- 4 large garlic cloves
- 1 cup diced celery ribs (2 ribs of celery, no leaves)
- 5 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 4 ½ cups frozen corn kernels (up to 5 cups)
- 2 cups cooked black beans (with some juice but not much)
- ¾ cup full fat plain Greek yogurt
Optional Garnishes
- diced green onion to garnish
- cilantro
- diced tomatoes
- optional red pepper or smoked paprika
Instructions
Make Bacon
- Bake strips of bacon at 400°F for 20 minutes for dark and crispy. Middle rack for conventional and convection oven. Let cool, then break into small pieces. Set aside. Option to bake the bacon while the soup cooks.
Make the Soup
- Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil on medium-low heat (level 3) in a large, heavy bottom pot ( I use a 5 qt. Corning Ware) Once hot add all veggies and potatoes. Sauté for about 5 minutes.
- Add 5 cups broth with all spices (smoked paprika, sea salt, cumin, garlic granules, and bay leaf). Cook for another 18- 20 minutes and decrease heat to low-medium (level 2). Cook for another 5 minutes and then add corn and beans (if you want a lighter and brighter color soup then add the beans after blending). Cook for another 15 minutes and turn off heat.
- Add yogurt and transfer 6 cups of the soup to a blender (heat safe blender). Using immersion blender is not recommended for this recipe.
- If you want thicker soup do 1 less cup broth. Blend more of the soup if you wish to have it smoother. Add beans if you haven't already.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!