Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

It's cold still. Spring in Minnesota gets that way. Break out the fuzzy slippers cause it's time to get comfortable and warm!

I love a good corn chowder soup. It's comfort food all the way. Creamy, chunky, warm and hearty!



What I don't like is all the calories. This soup is super low calorie and healthy. Instead of potatoes, we have summer squash. My husband never even noticed. No joke. He totally loved this.



 
It was so light and healthy, I couldn't help but add some cheese and bacon to top it off. It brought an already delicious soup to a whole new level. If you feel like leaving the cheese and bacon off, you can knock about 40 calories per bowl. Nice.

We ate this soup with some fantastic cuban quesadillas. This hearty, filling meal came in about 500 calories. There are a ton of leftovers too! Can't wait for lunch tomorrow!

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder Recipe
Cooking Light, Aug 2010

4 slices applewood smoked bacon
1 1/2 cups onion
1/2 cup celery
2 lbs. yellow summer squash
2 lbs. frozen corn, thawed and divided
4 cups milk, divided
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
Tabasco sauce, chipotle flavored (optional but good!)

Cook bacon in a pan until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tbsp. bacon drippings in pan.  Crumble bacon and set aside.  Add onions, celery and squash to drippings in pan, saute about 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Reserve 2 cups of corn. Set aside.  Place remaining thawed corn and 2 cups of milk into a blender, process until smooth.  Add remaining milk, thyme, salt and pepper to blender. Process until smooth.  Add pureed mixture and reserved whole corn to onion mixture.  Heat on medium until thoroughly heated, stirring constantly.  Top each bowl with 1 tbsp. bacon, onions and 1 tbsp. cheese.  I also put about 4 - 5 drops of chipotle Tabasco in it. It was subtle but was delicious!


Total calories = 1980 calories
10 servings = 198 calories per bowl


Summer Squash & Corn Chowder + Cuban Quesadilla = 509 calorie dinner

One Year Ago...

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

This is my submission to Souper Sundays at Kahakai Kitchen. 

This is linked with:
No Whine Wednesday at Food on the Table

Let's Do Brunch at My Sweet and Savory
Works for me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
Real Food Wednesdays at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
What's on your Plate? at Good Cheap Eats
What's on the Menu Wednesdays at Dining with Debbie



Calories calculated from calorieking.com. Some numbers are approximate and rounded.