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Monday, June 21, 2010

Creamy Vegetable Chowder

This is a great fall soup that includes a variety of vegetables and a creamy cheddar cheese base.

2 cups Chopped Onions
1 TB Butter
1 TB Canola or Vegetable Oil
2 Celery Stalks, diced
1 cup Peeled and Diced Carrots
1 1/2 cups Diced Potatoes
3 cups Water or Vegetable Stock
1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
1 Bay Leaf
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper (or use Ground White Pepper)
1/2 cup Green Beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup Diced Red Bell Peppers
1 cup Diced Zucchini
1/2 cup Fresh or Frozen Green Peas (you can also substitute frozen corn, which works great)
2 TB Chopped Fresh Parsley
2 cups Milk
1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
2 oz Neufchatel or Ccream Cheese

Optional: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra spice, or add a sprinkle of grated cheddar cheese or even parmesan cheese on top of the soup.

In a large soup, sauté the onions in the butter and oil for 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat. Add the celery, cover, and cook until just soft, stirring occasionally. Add the carrots, potatoes, water or stock, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil; then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes. With a strainer or slotted spoon, remove about 1 1/2 cups of the cooked vegetables and carefully pour into a blender or food processor. Set aside until ready to puree.

Add the green beans, bell peppers, and zucchini to the pot and cook until the green beans are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the peas and parsley, simmer for 2 more minutes, then remove from the heat. Discard the bay leaf.

Puree the reserved vegetables with the milk and cheeses to make a smooth sauce, stir the sauce into the soup and gently reheat. Serve with crusty French bread and a salad.  Serves about 8.

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