Its always disappointing when a recipe gets high marks but the reviewers suggestions are what REALLY make the difference. This could have easily been a 5 star recipe had I read through half of the reviews.
The two key issues I had with this recipe:
Calling for milk. It should just be changed to half and half or cream - because the milk seperates - which is not at all appetizing.
Having the bacon in from the beginning. The result is almost like an uncooked texture by the end. It should be cooked, kept aside and almost added as a granish upon serving. Leaving the bacon fat in at the beginning stage will impart the flavor and not sacrifice the bacon's texture instead.
Granted - I should have instinctively not done both of these things - and will amend if I make this again.
Wow, this was an amazing corn chowder! I did make a couple changes:
I cooked the bacon in the soup pot until it was crispy, then removed the bacon and sauteed the onion and celery in the bacon fat. I crumbled the bacon and added it back at the end to keep it crunchy. I found I didn't need to dirty two pans for cooking the bacon and then simmering the soup. I omitted the butter and definitely didn't miss it! Also I drained the can of whole corn and I peeled the potatoes (it wasn't clear in the recipe if I should).
All in all, the best corn chowder I have ever eaten!!
I used butter in this recipe instead of margerine and I also used homemade chicken broth and evaporated milk instead of regular milk (the reason for using canned milk in this recipe is it doesn't seperate when cooking which regular milk will do). The thickness was spot on. After tasting it, I did add a few spices but there wasn't much adjustment needed. I made Bacon Cheddar Muffins to go with. This was a nice, filling dinner.
some previous reviewers are saying this chowder is bland....here is the way i did it and it was not bland at all...sub half and half for milk, use good quality chicken stock (wolfgang puck makes a decent inexpensive one)I added a splash of low vinager high heat hot sauce and some smoked paprika. also instead of a flour paste(?) I made a cooked roux with the grease from the bacon probably about a quater cup of flour or maybe more for a rich chowder. The way the recipe reads it is very thin. add plenty of salt too. try and see whats up..yum yumm very good base recipe though
I have been trying to find a good corn chowder recipe and I happened to think this one sounded the best. As it turns out, this soup was absolutely excellent. I have never made corn chowder before but I have eaten a lot and I would rate this as one of the best I have had. I did change the recipe a bit by adding garlic in with the onion and celery and using cream instead of milk and omitting the flour. Also, next time I will brown the bacon all the way before adding the veggies. However, all in all this recipe was great. Thank you so much!!!
Yummy!!! In reading the reviews and then the recipe again it calls for 4 cups of broth = 2 CANS... Before catching this I used 3 cans! I also used the frozen corn as others stated as well as half & half instead of milk. I added the flour to the half & half to thicken it too. Next time I will use all yellow frozen corn the white made it a bit too sweet and I will double the celery. Usually not fond of cooked celery but it was excellent in this soup. Everyone loved it thanks for the great recipe!
I thought it tasted great. I used crumbled sausage instead of bacon and a can of cream of celery soup instead of celery. Very simple:)
Ok so following many others I did what was suggested. I browned my bacon first then removed from pot and saved for the end. I then browned my onions and celery also using a few dashes of garlic powder(or fresh if on hand). I then added my stock after about five minutes and then proceeded with the potatoes and carrots and a can of creamed corn I let this boil for a bit and another burner warmed up about a cup and a half of half n half. Once I added my cream I then added about a cup of frozen corn as I think it has a much better flavour than canned. And to thicken I did not use a roux but instead keep these perfect little portioned packages of dehydrated mashed potatoes(the kind you would add your butter and milk too...) I find these are a much better thickener and have the yummy taste of potatoes as opposed of a floury taste. I seasoned with some crushed black pepper as it did not need salt. Perfect!!
Thank you for a delicious recipe. I made it today and I LOVE it. The only reason I changed anything was to make it vegetarian. I left out the bacon and used vegetable broth. I also cut the fat a bit for health reasons by using skim milk and light butter, leaving out the bacon helped with that too. Nutrition changed to 142 cal, 1.9g fat, 0 cholesterol, 4.82g Protein, 599mg sodium and 2.2g fiber. The soup came out very creamy, better than most I have had out at restaurants. Thanks again. :)