One of our favorite chowders of all time, it's rich and creamy, without being heavy. And packed with flavor from smoky bacon, sweet corn and briny shrimp. Perfect with a few spicy jalapeño slices on top. ˜
Coarse kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepperto taste
1poundmedium or large shrimppeeled and deveined
2scallionsfinely sliced, for garnish
Instructions
Stand corn on end in a large bowl. Using a large knife, cut kernels from cob (you should have about 4 1/2 cups, total); and set aside. Then into a 2nd smaller bowl. firmly scrape any pulp and milk remaining on cobs with back of knife (you’ll have about 1 cup pulp).
Sauté bacon in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, until crisp and golden brown, about 7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Reduce heat to medium-low, add leeks and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add sherry and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, gradually add stock. Add half and half and bring to a boil. Add potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, corn pulp and cream cheese; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add reserved corn kernels and return to simmer for 5 minutes. Add shrimp and simmer until shrimp are opaque and just cooked through, 3-5 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into serving bowls, sprinkle each bowl with some scallions, reserved bacon and a couple of jalapeño slices.