Saturday, August 31, 2013

Chilled Fresh Corn Chowder with Fennel




                        

You can take advantage of the end of the fresh corn season with this filling chilled summer chowder. It's still hot at here and chilled soups are one delicious way to beat the heat. No need to turn on the hot stove, just assemble these summer ingredients in a bowl and whisk. 

The best part is that it this soup can be made in advance. It needs to chill, so keep it in the refrigerator for 2- 24 hours before serving.. If you are having company, dividing it into individual sized portions  makes a great presentation. Cool, delicious, and refreshing!

I usually have company for dinner on Friday nights.  Last night I served this soup as a starter and everyone loved it. It's chunky, very flavorful, and filling. It's nutritious with the avocado and other fresh veggies that it could be a satisfying meal in itself, but I assure you everyone ate the rest of the meal. 

I like to use the whisk to mix this soup together. It seems to really help the flavors mingle. Just a few light stirrings does it. 

 I bought farm fresh corn from a local farm that is GMO free. When purchasing corn whether fresh or packaged check to see if it's GMO free. If it is not labeled , it is probably GMO corn. Corn is one of the foods that is prevalent on the GMO lists.  

How do you know if you fresh corn is GMO free? I read somewhere ( haven't verified it ) 
that if your produce begins with the number "8" that it is Genetically Modified. 
If it begins with any other number it is not Genetically Modified. 
Of course if it begins with a "9" - it is organic

As always my soups are gluten free.


Prep Time:  10 minutes
Cook Time: None
Chill:

Ingredients

2 Persian cucumbers grated fine ( I used a hand grater and it took 1 minute)
2 ears of corn on the cob, cut off the corn
3/4 of an avocado, chopped
2 cups of plain yogurt
1 cup of Greek yogurt
hair of fresh fennel ( looks like dill)
1 stalk of fresh fennel chopped for garnish
juice of 1 juicy lime
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 clove garlic, pressed ( or two if you like the fresh garlic taste)
1 tsp of seasoning ( Trader Joe's 21 salute-) 21 herbs- or any no salt seasoning mix
salt to taste
1 Tablespoon of honey ( the soup really needs it)

** Persian cucumbers are the ones sold in packages of 5 at Trader Joe's.. otherwise use any small cucumber

                                     

Ingredients for seasoning for soup
Fennel is available in any supermarket including Trader Joe's ( best price) ; use it
in salads and as a garnish for this soup. Looks like celery, but  tastes like slight  licorice taste..very good


Directions
In a bowl squeeze the juice of one juicy lime ( or use two) , 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, seasoning, and honey. Whisk until well combined and set aside for the flavors to mingle for a minimum of 15 minutes.

In another large bowl combine grated cucumber, fresh corn taken off the cob, and chopped avocado in a large bowl. Add yogurt, and Greek yogurt . Using a whisk, lightly stir the ingredients together to make a chunky soup and set aside.

Add the lime mixture to the soup mixture and whisk lightly to combine.

I divided mine into 8 individual sized portions and garnished with chopped fennel and the chopped fennel hair.. chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours and serve chilled ..

Very refreshing and filling to begin a vegetarian or light summer meal ... Of course its naturally gluten free.
So if you need a soup for a vegetarian or someone who is gluten free... this is it!!

My Vegetarian/Vegan Gluten Free Dinner for 7  

  •  Chilled fresh corn chowder garnished with fennel
  •  stuffed peppers with vegetables, quinoa, and chick peas ( vegan)
  •  grilled eggplant, tomatoes, and zucchini  ( vegan)
  •  salad
  • vegetarian caprese platter ( sliced fresh mozzarella, sliced summer tomato, fresh basil from my herb garden, a little diced red onion, and balsamic vinegar)
  • Chunked watermelon and mini honey cakes for dessert




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9 comments:

  1. I love the corn and fennel pairing in a cold soup--very refreshing. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week! ;-)

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  2. It's hot here, making it difficult to think about traditional soup. Your chilled corn chowder sounds perfect and refreshing. I like the lime juice--big fan of lime juice in soups (hot or cold). The fennel on top looks so elegant.
    Thank you for linking, Judee!

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  3. What a lovely chilled soup! The flavours in here sound awesome too. Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.

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  4. What a refreshing meal for these hot summer days. Sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing at the BBQ Block Party.
    Easy Life Meal & Party Planning

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  5. Looks like a lovely dish! All of the ingredients sound delicious, and incredibly healthy. I never know what to do with fresh fennel, so I will make this next time I have it. Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday!

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  6. This looks fantastic. I wonder if it would be good warm too? I love all the ingredients. Thanks for sharing at Good Tastes Tuesday.

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  7. I like the idea of healthy greek yogurt and avocado to create the creaminess of this chowder. Thank you so much for sharing it with us on foodie friday.

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  8. This looks wonderful and refreshing! Thanks so much for sharing it on Waste Not Want Wednesday, I've pinned it :)

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  9. This sounds so fresh and good! Looks beautiful in the dishes!~ I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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