Mar 24, 2011

Vegan Corn Chowder, Updated

Soup is always on the top of my list on a cold blustery day like today. It seems like Mr. Snow Miser is still battling it out with Mr. Heat Miser, and here in Northern California, it's turned into Mr. Miserably Cold Rain Miser!




If you're too young to remember Mr. Snow & Mr. Heat Miser, here they are, in all their 1974 claymation glory.

Which strangely enough, leads nicely into the "corny-ness" of this soup (insert gratuitous laugh track here).

Anyway- this updated version has a touch of parsnips in it, which adds that disctinctive spicy sweet flavor that compliments the corn. I added a bit of tempeh bacon bits to add some salty smokey contrast- not to mention protein, and a garnish of fragrant lemon thyme, which is now growing like a chia pet on my windowsill. The scent of it makes me want to bathe in it (the lemon thyme, not the chowder).

Makes one big pot of soup- if you only have a few people, you might want to halve this recipe.

Ingredients:
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
pinch of salt
1 1/2 C. potato (I used red potatoes, skinned and chopped)
1 C. parnsips, peeled and chopped
6 C. water
1 16oz. bag of frozen yellow corn
1/3 C. nutritional yeast flakes
salt & pepper to taste

Spinz:
Sweat the onions and garlic in the olive oil with a pinch of salt in a large soup pot. Add potatoes, parsnips, and water. Cover, and let simmer until everything is tender. Stir in the corn, nutritional yeast
and salt/pepper to taste. Let it come to a simmer again, then turn off heat. Transfer to a blender, and puree until silky smooth. Remember to leave a small opening at the top of the blender to allow steam to escape, unless you want an explosion! You may need to divide into two batches. Serve nice and hot.

13 comments:

  1. Looks amazing- I think my hubby would love this!
    Blessings, Debra
    Raw Vegan Diet

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  2. I remember Heat Miser and Snow Miser! Two all-time favs for sure. The Year Without a Santa Claus was always at the top of Christmas special enjoyment!

    I heard about the rain storms in northern CA! Sheesh, stay dry!

    This soup looks just the thing for rainy days...we get lots of those up here in Seattle...I'll be making this soon for sure.

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  3. Interesting addition of parsnips! I may just have to try this subbing in carrots though, since I have everything else on hand and it looks too delicious to wait.

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  4. The parsnips were well worth it!

    I marinaded some tofu in soya sauce and liquid smoke to add some bacon-esque topping to this delightful soup.

    Thanks for making my dinner distinctly awesome.

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  5. Wow, the chowder looks so yummy! I bet this would be even more awesome in the summer with fresh corn. Although I don't think I can wait that long to try it. :-)

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  6. it looks so yum.
    m dieing to taste it. ;-)

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  7. Yum. With summer not so far away, this would be amazing to make with some fresh corn. Maybe with a few whole kernels in there?

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  8. That looks delicious! I definitely remember the 'Misers'...fun!

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  9. You know, I've been actually trying to remember those characters' names b/c I want my children to enjoy them as well - thanks! The soup sounds great!

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  10. This is my all-time favorite corn chowder recipe. I never knew how much I love parsnips until it came along.

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  11. it looks so very delicious.
    want to taste it right now.

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