CORN OFF THE COB SOUP

CORN OFF THE COB SOUP image

Yield 6 people

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, washed and chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, ribs removed and chopped
4 small gold potatoes, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
8 ears of corn
1 pint heavy cream or coconut milk
Fresh herbs (I used chopped basil, chopped Italian parsley and a few sprigs of chopped fresh thyme leaves, but chopped fresh cilantro is divine here, too)
Cayenne pepper, to taste
1 lemon, for zesting

Steps:

In a heavy bottomed pot, start by melting about 4 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add all of the chopped vegetables (onion through potatoes) and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sauté uncovered until the vegetables begin to brown (which is caramelization, and that means flavor), stirring every once in a while, for about 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock, add the bay leaf and turn up the heat so the stock bubbles. This will cook the potatoes through. When the potatoes are tender (poke 1 or 2 with a sharp knife to find out), reduce the heat to a simmer. While the vegetables are cooking, remove the husks and silks from the corn cobs. Slice both ends horizontally to form a flat surface. Hold the cob vertically, resting one of the flat ends on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice down firmly to remove the corn kernels, taking care not to cut into the cob itself. Give the cob and turn and keep going. When all of the kernels are off the cobs, add them to the pot. Simmer another 5 minutes. Add the cream and chopped herbs. Taste and reseason with salt and pepper. Add a bit of cayenne to your taste (I used about 1/4 teaspoon). Heat until the cream starts to bubble. Taste again. I added the merest bit of lemon zest, but my husband Joe thinks the soup tastes great without the lemon. Remove the bay leaf and serve right away. If desired, top with crumbled cooked bacon.