How hard can it be to make a decent corn chowder?!?!?!

[luvflorida]

I LOVE corn chowder, but I can't for the life of me make any that taste good.

I tried again tonight, but it isn't very good. I like just a simple New England style chowder-corn, potatoes, a bit of onion, salt, pepper, milk and butter. I've tried making it with chicken broth and less milk, and I've tried whole corn, creamed corn, and mixing the two. I'm lacking whatever it is that makes a chowder thick and creamy.

So, what is the ingredient that thickens up a chowder? If anyone is familiar with the Boston Chowda Company's chowder out of Boston, that's the kind of chowder I'm aiming for. The closest out here in Tucson would be the corn chowder served at Mimi's Cafe.

Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated!

 

[DisneyForLife]

I just use two cans each of whole corn and creamed corn, some small chunks of cooked potato, about half an onion chopped, and some half and half. I don't know how much half and half I actually use, I just pour it in until I see the right consistency. Then cook til heated through. Salt and pepper to taste.
We all really like it, if you try it I hope you do also.
It is just a plain corn chowder, nothing fancy.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I LOVE corn chowder, but I can't for the life of me make any that taste good.

I tried again tonight, but it isn't very good. I like just a simple New England style chowder-corn, potatoes, a bit of onion, salt, pepper, milk and butter. I've tried making it with chicken broth and less milk, and I've tried whole corn, creamed corn, and mixing the two. I'm lacking whatever it is that makes a chowder thick and creamy.

So, what is the ingredient that thickens up a chowder? If anyone is familiar with the Boston Chowda Company's chowder out of Boston, that's the kind of chowder I'm aiming for. The closest out here in Tucson would be the corn chowder served at Mimi's Cafe.

Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated!

You can try a couple of things, but I think the easiest way is to take about half of the soup and puree in a blender and then add it back in to the rest of the soup. Also adding some potatoes will help thicken it.

 

[amez]

corn starch or flour will thicken it
http://eatathomecooks.com/2010/01/broccoli-soup.html here is the rundown on how it is done with broccoli soup.
hth

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The flavor you might be missing is bacon. I like it without, myself (I make it a lot), but many recipes call for it.

I also make it on the thinner side (the way my mother made it), but if I do want to thicken it I use a small mix of flour and water.

 

[tasha99]

I just use two cans each of whole corn and creamed corn, some small chunks of cooked potato, about half an onion chopped, and some half and half. I don't know how much half and half I actually use, I just pour it in until I see the right consistency. Then cook til heated through. Salt and pepper to taste.
We all really like it, if you try it I hope you do also.
It is just a plain corn chowder, nothing fancy.

This. It's so tempting at home to use a lighter milk product, but if you want it to compete with restaurant food, you have to fatten it up. Restaurants are out to make it taste good, not good for you, so you know it has half and half (or heavy cream) and lots of bacon and butter.

 

[luvflorida]

I just use two cans each of whole corn and creamed corn, some small chunks of cooked potato, about half an onion chopped, and some half and half. I don't know how much half and half I actually use, I just pour it in until I see the right consistency. Then cook til heated through. Salt and pepper to taste.
We all really like it, if you try it I hope you do also.
It is just a plain corn chowder, nothing fancy.

This. It's so tempting at home to use a lighter milk product, but if you want it to compete with restaurant food, you have to fatten it up. Restaurants are out to make it taste good, not good for you, so you know it has half and half (or heavy cream) and lots of bacon and butter.

I think next time I make it I'll try half and half, or heavy cream. A lot of online recipes use chicken broth, so I tried that, but just thinking about chicken broth in corn chowder really doesn't appeal to me. I didn't use flour because I read that flour isn't a good ingredient to add.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[Abbie]

This is a real family favorite around here! I cut up and boil a few potatoes and onion, add half and half (or skim milk if that's all I have and it's just as good), a bag of frozen corn, and a can of cream of chicken soup (or mushroom or celery). Simmer, toss in some bacon, salt and pepper. Sometimes I'll add a dash or two of hickory smoke seasoning. If you need it thicker, make a runny mix of flour and water and add it to the soup, stirring till it thickens. With a loaf of chewy bread (love Panera's!) it is a hearty and delicious meal.

Now if you want to really up the fat content, fry up a half pound of bacon and use a few tablespoons of the drippings mixed with a bit of flour, then add to the soup. It will thicken and really adds nicely to the flavor.