Corn Chowder

Dietary Needs:

Egg Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, Vegetarian

Recipe Author:

From our What’s for Lunch? Cookbook

Servings

12 cups

Total Time to Make

45 minutes

Ingredients

1 large onion
1 large carrot or 1 small sweet potato
1 lb (454 g) white potatoes
2 Tbsp (30 ml) margarine or oil
1⁄4 tsp (1.25 ml) nutmeg, optional
1⁄4 tsp (1.25 ml) dried thyme, optional
1 1⁄2 tsp (7.5 ml) salt
3 cups (750 ml) water
3 cups (750 ml) milk
1 Tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch
2 lb (900g) corn, fresh or frozen

Directions

Peel and mince the onion. Peel the carrot or sweet potato and grate or dice. Peel the white potatoes or scrub very well and dice.
Heat the margarine or oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots or sweet potatoes, optional nutmeg, optional dried thyme, and salt. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are tender, about 10–15 minutes.
Add the diced white potatoes and water and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, about 15–20 minutes.
Mix the cornstarch with 1⁄2 cup of the milk and pour the remaining milk into the soup. Stir the cornstarch mixture well and pour it into the soup. Continue to stir and cook until the soup bubbles and thickens.
Stir in the corn, taste, and serve. Refrigerate leftovers promptly in a sealed container for up to three days. Freeze for longer storage.

Notes

Corn chowder and other soups freeze well but take a very long time to defrost, up to three days in the refrigerator. Make sure to plan ahead. Adding dry cornstarch to hot liquid creates clumps, so always mix it with a bit of cold liquid before adding it to the soup. Add extra protein to this chowder by stirring in some haddock or other white fish, salmon, chicken, or cooked beans.

Bring the recipe into your home, classroom, or community

Hungry for something fun? Get cooking with our cookbook What’s for Lunch? Nova Scotia Recipes to Cook and Enjoy Together. Explore the recipes with your family at home! If you’re an educator, check out our Recipes for Learning resources that bring food literacy to life through engaging cooking videos and hands-on classroom activities.