Beyond Chicken Corn Chowder

White bowl, on a Butcher Block counter top, full of Chicken Corn Chowder.

The Best Corn Chowder has Chicken

I can’t say enough about this recipe. Plus, I love practically anything “Chowder” so, it’s safe to say, being the author and all, that I might be a little bias. A Chowder is defined as a soup made with milk and/or cream, also a roux for thickening and the addition of seafood or vegetables or both. There are two other common ingredients, however, found in most Chowders; chopped onion and potatoes.

There are many different recipes out there, in this great abyss we call the web. Clam Chowder has always been one of my favorites and I like to make mine with bacon. There is of course other Seafood recipes, similar to this one, that add chunks of fish or shrimp and, of course, simple potato or corn chowder recipes.

For this particular chowder, I decided to step it up and make it chunky; like a stew. That’s why I’m calling it, “Beyond” Chicken Corn Chowder. I combined Chicken Chowder with Corn Chowder and I threw in a few more vegetables. In fact, the beautiful thing about this recipe, is it is interchangeable. It can be made with just the vegetables or the addition of Seafood, instead of Chicken.

If you want to make a vegetable chowder, just leave the chicken out and use a vegetable broth instead. If you want a Clam chowder, exchange the chicken broth for Clam juice and add chopped Clams instead. The same goes for seafood… shrimp or fish. Just swap the broth and the meat and your chowder flavor will follow.

Bulk of the Ingredients for Chicken Corn Chowder; A bag of Frozen Peas & Carrots, Corn, 2 bowls of Chopped Onion and Potatoes and a package of 5 Boneless Skinless chicken thighs.
Green Diamond Skillet with 5 seasoned and fully cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken thighs.
Large pot on the stove top full of the starting makes of a chicken corn chowder; chopped onion, butter seasoned potatoes.
One full ladle serving, over the soup pot, of chicken corn chowder.
One spoonful of chicken corn chowder, taken from a white bowl with a full serving of soup, on the counter.

Chicken Corn Chowder Ingredients: 8 to 10 servings

4 tbsp Butter
2 Russet Potatoes, cut into 1/2″ inch pieces
1 Onion, diced
1 cup peas, frozen bag
1 cup Carrot, frozen bag
1 cup Corn, frozen bag
1/3 cup Flour, all purpose
1 cup White Wine, sweet (I used homemade Roscatto)
1 qt Chicken Broth
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1 lbs Chicken, 1″ inch cut portions
1 tsp Italian Seasoning or Parsley, dried
1/2 tsp Blackened Seasoning
1/4 tsp White Pepper

Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste

Season Boneless Chicken Thighs with Kosher Salt and Pepper
and Blackened Seasoning. Could also use a dash of Cayenne
for spicier taste buds.

This Chowder is EXCELLENT for any recipe;
Clams, Chicken, fish and seafood or plain Corn Chowder.

Start the cooking in a large pot by adding the butter first, then the garlic, onion, carrot, corn and peas, then flour, wine and broth. Bring it to a boil, then add the potato(Tater Tots) and whipping cream. Stir until thickened and reduce heat to a
simmer. Add the Cod and season with dried Parsley, Kosher Salt and Pepper, Blackened Seasoning and white pepper.

Be sure to watch the short video tutorial and I’ll demonstrate exactly how to make this Chicken Corn Chowder.

Easy Beef Stew with Ditalini

A green handled Bowl of Beef Stew with Ditalini pasta and a spoon.

The Best Beef Stew

You won’t be able to deny this stew, it’s that good. It’s very similar to a recipe I posted a few years ago but this really packs that stick to your ribs punch. I’m talking about comfort food that makes you feel so warm and cozy inside that you melt with each bite. As you can see by the title, I’ve also added a small italian soup noodle called “Ditalini” to make this recipe a little more filling and you’re going to love it. I’m telling you, Beef Stew can’t get much better.

Cooking the Beef and Vegetables

The most important thing to understand, in this recipe, is that everything must be seared. Sear the chopped onion, potatoes, carrots and certainly the beef. Also, be sure to season everything as you go with Kosher Salt and Pepper. The Beef is braised so it gets a dusting of all purpose flour, as well.

The fresh herbs I use in the video are slightly different than the written recipe, however, but it’s not a big enough difference to make a stink about. It’s just going to be up to your personal preference and how you like your Beef Stew to taste. In the video, I use 4 different fresh herbs, Bay leaf, Oregano, Thyme & Rosemary. In the written recipe, I only use 2 dry ingredients, Parsley & Thyme.

My wife claims to like the written recipe better, though, if it’s any consolation. You might even want to look into trying my Pork Loin and Hominy Stew. It’s delicious.

Easy Beef Stew with Ditalini video tutorial by PoorMansGourmet.

Easy Beef Stew with Ditalini Ingredients:

3 tbsp Olive oil
1 1/2 lb Beef Chuck, cut into 1/2″ pieces
1/4 cup flour (all purpose), for the beef
1 Onion, Chopped 1/2″ pieces
2 tbsp Butter
2 Large Russet Potatoes, cut into 1/2″ pieces
2 Large Carrots, cut into 1/4″ pieces
1 qt Beef Broth
1/2 cup Spaghetti Sauce/Ragu
1 tbsp Dried Parsley
1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
2 cup Water
1 cup Ditalini pasta

Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste

Sautee the chopped Onion in butter for 5 minutes and season
with salt and Pepper. Add the Potato and Carrot, cook 10 minutes
and season again with salt and pepper, Parsley and Thyme.

Pre-season the cut beef with Kosher Salt and Pepper and mix
with the flour until fully coated. Remove the vegetables from the
pot, place in a bowl, add the Olive oil and meat to the pot and
sear the meat on all sides for 5 minutes over medium high heat.

Add the vegetables back to the pot and stir everything together.
Add the Beef Broth, Ragu and 1 cup of water. Stir and bring the
soup to a boil, reduce heat, cover with a lid and simmer for 2 hours,
stirring occasionally. After 2 hours add 1 more cup of water and the
Ditalini pasta. Simmer, covered, for one 1/2 hour, then serve.

Watch the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make this delicious Roast Beef Stew with Ditalini recipe.

Miso Soup

Homemade Miso Soup with Tofu and Green Onions.

The Best Miso Soup

I love Japanese food and my wife and I order sushi quite often but one thing I like to get, as an appetizer, is Miso Soup. If you don’t don’t know what Miso is, I can tell you that it’s a Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and kōji and sometimes rice, barley, seaweed or other ingredients. There’s several different varieties of Miso but the most common are white and red. I’ll be demonstrating how to make Miso Soup using the red Miso and I’m going to show you how to make a soup with the most basic ingredients,Tofu and Green Onions.

Dashi ingredients, Kombu and Katsuobushi.

Dashi Fish Broth

Most soups are made from broths or stalks and this recipe is no different. The broth that needs to be prepared for this Miso Soup recipe is called Dashi and it’s really easy to make. All you have to do is combine Kombu(dried Kelp) and katsuobushi(bonito flakes or dehydrated Skip Jack Tuna) with boiling water and let it steep, like tea, for 10 minutes. If you don’t know what these ingredients are or where to find them, you can go to any Asian market and ask the attendants. I buy them both dehydrated and I just reconstitute them with the boiling water. The water absorbs the flavor, like tea, and creates the broth called Dashi. Then, all you have to do is strain the broth to make the Miso Soup.

Be sure to try my Red Sauce Wonton and my Wonton Soup Recipe.

Extra firm Tofu and fresh chopped Green Onions.

Tofu and Green Onions

As I mentioned above, there are several different varieties of Miso and there are also several different Miso Soups. If fact, eventually I want to show you how to make a spicy Beef Ramen Miso Soup that I think is just amazing but I’ve got to teach you the basics first so you understand recipe like that one, later. So today I’m going to teach you how to make a Miso Soup with Tofu and Green Onions.

Miso Soup Ingredients:

2 cups dashi
1 Green Onions, chopped
4 oz Tofu, Extra Firm
3 Tbsp miso

Dashi
4 cups water
1 oz kombu (dried kelp)
1 cup katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) (1 loose cups = 10 g)

Just watch the video tutorial and I’ll show you just how easy it is to make Dashi and this Tofu and Green Onion Miso Soup.