Best Winter Chowder Recipes

RUSTIC ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLE CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast until tender and browned in places, about 40 minutes, turning a couple of times while roasting.
• While the veggies are roasting, prepare the base of the soup. To a large saucepan over low heat, add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion along with a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper, then cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the vegetable broth. Add the potatoes and thyme. Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Remove from heat. Pick out the thyme stems and discard.
• Stir in the roasted vegetables. Carefully transfer about 3 cups of the chowder to the pitcher of a blender. Puree until smooth. Return the pureed mixture to the pot and stir to combine. The soup should be thick, rich, and creamy.
• Stir in the milk. Place the pot back on the burner, and, with the heat on medium-low, return to a simmer, stirring often to prevent burning.
• Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve garnished with an additional turn of cracked pepper and thyme leaves. Sometimes, I'll reserve a few of the roasted veggies for garnish too.

CREAMY ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP OR CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Put all vegetables in a large roasting pan and toss with olive oil, herbs and spices.
• Pour in 1 cup veg. broth and 1/2 cup wine
• Roast at 400 degrees stirring occasionally until vegetables are fork tender and slightly brown. (40 minutes to 1 hour)
• In a large dutch oven or soup pot heat 2 tbls butter. Add roasted vegetables making sure to get all of the good juices and scrapings from the bottom of the roasting pan. Next add the remainder of 1 qt of vegetable broth bring to a simmer, then puree with an immersion blender or in small batches in a blender. If it seems too thick thin down with more broth.
• Add one cup milk and one cup of defrosted corn and heat through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. At this point if you like hot sauce ( we use tabasco) add to taste. Sometimes I add a little curry powder at this point instead of tabasco. Either hot sauce or curry could be added to the bowls of those eating the soup.

ROAST TURKEY AND WINTER VEGETABLE CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a heavy 6 to 8 quart saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring frequently until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon to plate. Set aside. Pour off all but 2 Tablespoons of the bacon fat, and return the pot to medium heat. Add the onion and celery. Sauté until the vegetables are soft, but not browned, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, squash, and turkey stock. Bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Partially cover the pot and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the zucchini, Swiss chard (or kale), turkey, sage, thyme, and reserved bacon. Cook 5 minutes longer. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into warmed individual bowls or mugs and serve.

WINTER NIGHT CREAMY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain clams in colander, reserving liquid in large bowl. Allow liquid to sit still to let any sand that may be in it to drop to the bottom of the bowl.
• In a large, heavy pot, in the rendered fat and 2 Tablespoons of butter, sweat the onions and celery until tender.
• Add garlic, thyme, potatoes, clams, clam juice and cooked bacon.
• Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
• In the meantime, whisk the flour and the cup of milk together and let stand, whisking occasionally, until the flour and milk are completely smooth. Then add the 2 cups of half & half and the white wine.
• Add this mixture to the pot and slowly bring to a simmer, stirring all the time! Simmer for 5 minutes or more, tasting to make sure the flour has cooked.
• Now add the fresh lemon juice and let this wonderful chowder sit on your stovetop for about 1 hour, to let the flavors marry and use the time to heat up a crusty bread, make a salad if you want, and serve.
• It's always way better the next day! So you can cool it off in the refrigerator uncovered and stir now and again, then cover and store till the next day.
• This freezes well, but is better fresh!

ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLE CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil and ½ teaspoon coarse salt. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and place in the oven for 25 minutes, turning every 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and browning on all sides. Set aside. In a large saucepan over low heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When the butter has melted, add the onion. Increase heat to medium and cook onions, stirring frequently, until transparent and soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and, stirring constantly, cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the vegetable broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Stir in thyme and roasted vegetables. Return to a simmer. Carefully move about 3½ cups soup to a large bowl. Using a blender, puree in batches until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to (carefully) puree half of the soup either in the bowl or in the pot. Stir the pureed mixture back into the rest of the soup. Stir in the milk and return to a simmer. Taste for seasonings, adding additional salt and freshly ground pepper if desired. Serve garnished with additional thyme leaves and a few sprigs of fennel fronds if desired.

WINTER CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the potatoes, onion and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Do not drain. Mash potatoes (mixture will not be smooth). Stir in the onion salt, pepper, salt and hot sauce; set aside. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, saute ham and brussels sprouts for 5-6 minutes or until sprouts are tender. Stir into the potato mixture. Add milk. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. , Gradually stir in 1/2 cup cheese; cook for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with remaining cheese.

OLD-FASHIONED WINTER VEGETABLE CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1.To prepare cream sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 cup finely chopped onion and cook, stirring, until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more. Add 5 cups broth and wine and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until the rice is very soft and the liquid is greatly reduced, about 25 minutes. Cool slightly. 2.Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree, in batches if necessary, until smooth. (Alternatively, puree in the pot with an immersion blender.) The consistency should be similar to a pourable sauce; add more broth or water as needed. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, preferably white pepper. 3.To prepare soup: Heat a heavy soup pot over medium heat and add bacon (or pancetta); cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate; pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat in the pot. 4.Add 1 tablespoon oil, 2 medium chopped onions, carrot, celery, garlic and fennel seed. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add dry mustard and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add 4 cups broth, potatoes and rutabaga and bring to a boil. 5.Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until the vegetables are tender but still hold their shape, 15 to 20 minutes. Mash a few of the vegetables against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon and cook for 2 minutes more to slightly thicken the soup. 6.Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the Cream Sauce and heat until steaming but not boiling. Remove from heat; add cheese and stir until melted. Season with pepper. Serve topped with chives (or scallion greens) and the reserved bacon (or pancetta). Tips & Notes Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate cream sauce (Steps 1 & 2) for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator or using the defrost setting on your microwave.

FIRESIDE WINTER-VEGETABLE CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the onions and the cabbage and cook for 2 to 3 min. 2. Add the garlic, potato, turnip, carrots, corn, fennel and tomatoes. Cook another 2 to 3 min and then add the stack and the milk. 3. Brig to a simmer over medium-high heat and the herbs. Simmer for 30 min or until all vegetables are tender. 4. Add the salt and pepper 5. Server with parley. 4 servings Source: Ontario Milk Calendar

WINTER SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• In lg pot heat olive oil, add bacon, + onions + cook 10 min (stir occasionally). Add clam juice + bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to med, add potatoes + pepper. Simmer uncovered until potatoes are almost done but still firm (8-10 min.)Add the fish + simmer 4 min. Stir in the cream + season with the salt + pepper. Swirl in the butter + serve immediately. Serve warm crusty bread with this.