Hearty Ham Corn Chowder (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
4 bacon strips
02 -
1/2 medium yellow or white onion, diced
03 -
2 celery stalks, chopped
04 -
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
05 -
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
06 -
4 cups chicken stock
07 -
1 cup heavy cream
08 -
2 cups frozen sweet corn kernels
09 -
1 pound smoked ham, cut into bite-sized pieces
10 -
2 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
11 -
1/4 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
12 -
1 small pinch cayenne pepper (if desired)
13 -
Salt and black pepper, to your liking
# Instructions:
01 -
Cut your bacon into small pieces (kitchen scissors work great for this) and add them to a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Let them sizzle until they're golden and crispy, which should take around 10 minutes.
02 -
While the bacon cooks, dice your onion, chop the celery, cube the ham, and peel and dice your potatoes into small chunks.
03 -
When the bacon is nice and crispy, scoop it out onto a plate lined with paper towels. Keep all that delicious bacon fat in the pot—that's where the flavor is!
04 -
Toss the diced onion and chopped celery into the pot with the bacon fat. Cook them for about 5 minutes until they start to soften and smell amazing.
05 -
Sprinkle in the flour and minced garlic, stirring constantly for about a minute. This creates a base that'll thicken your chowder beautifully.
06 -
Add the chicken stock and stir well, making sure the flour dissolves completely. Scrape up any tasty brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot—that's pure flavor!
07 -
Pour in the cream, then add the corn, ham chunks, diced potatoes, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, and most of your crispy bacon (save a little for topping). Crank the heat to high and bring everything to a rolling boil.
08 -
Once it's boiling, lower the heat so the chowder is gently bubbling. Leave the lid slightly ajar and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are fork-tender. The soup will naturally thicken as it cooks.
09 -
Taste your chowder and add salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with the reserved crispy bacon pieces.
# Notes:
01 -
This recipe makes 4 to 6 generous servings depending on how hungry everyone is.
02 -
If you're watching your sodium intake, use low-sodium chicken stock since the ham already adds quite a bit of saltiness.