Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Corn Chowder with Ham - Dairy Free & Gluten Free

The cold and dreary weather of the Wyoming winter begs for soup to warm not only the body but the soul.  My husband loves hearty creamy soups and this corn chowder with ham is no exception.  This chowder is simple to make either entirely dairy free or free from cow's milk dairy as well as gluten free.  We love most things but especially a creamy soup to have a mild touch of heat and the sriracha is the perfect choice here especially when using almond milk.  However, feel free to omit the sriracha if you can't take the heat! 

One of the things that I love about this soup is how quick and easy it is to put together.  I had made a ham the other day and this soup is a quick and easy way to use up the leftovers.  This would also be delicious without the ham making it a great vegetarian or vegan option.  However, my husband thinks that dinner just isn't complete without some meat.  


Corn Chowder with Ham

2 tbs olive oil
2 cups onions, chopped
1 1/2 cup bell peppers, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
5 cups potatoes, cubed
4 cups ham, cubed
2 lbs corn kernels (I used the fresh corn we froze this summer)
12 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbs fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbs sriracha (optional)
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
3 cups unsweetened almond milk OR 1 - 12 oz can evaporated goat's milk
3 tbs corn starch 
salt

In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Saute the onions, bell peppers, and garlic until they are tender.
Add the potatoes, ham, corn, chicken broth, parsley, thyme, pepper, sriracha, and smoked paprika.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Combine your milk of choice with the corn starch.
Add the milk mixture to the soup and continue to simmer until the soup comes back up to temperature and is very slightly thickened.
If you like a thicker soup then add more corn starch (dissolved in a little water) and continue to cook until the desired thickness is achieved.
Season with salt and serve.

6 comments:

  1. I'm actually missing soup season. It has not been cold enough for soups. We love corn chowder here too! Definitely a great dairy free cream soup!

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  2. Made this last night & my family loved it! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!!!

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    1. So glad to hear that your family loved it!! Thanks for making my recipe :)

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  3. Sounds so good I'm boiling my ham bone left over from Labor Day. I will certainly try this recipe and let you know how it turns out for us.

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    1. This soup turned out so great I can't tell you in words how tasty it is. I boiled my ham bone from labor day and used the left over meat. The broth from the ham bone took the place of the chicken stock in the recipe and then I used Silk unsweetened soy milk for the milk part of the recipe. YUM YUM YUM!!! Anyone with dairy allergies should try this recipe, you won't be disappointed it is that good. I rate the recipe a 10.

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    2. I am so glad to hear that not only you tried the chowder but that you loved it!! I love that you boiled the ham bone you had left over - I know that added a lot of flavor to the pot! Thank you for the comments :)

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