Tasty Shrimp Chowder

by Millie Bentley

Greetings. Here is a recipe that Geof, Nancy and I whipped up one time. They had a recipe for corn chowder but couldn’t locate it, and I have a basic chowder recipe tucked inside my head so we collaborated to come up with this wonderful soup. It will fill you up.

Corn and Shrimp Chowder

1 pound shrimp in shell – raw

1 can shoepeg (white) corm, drained (save juice), 16 ounces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large potato, peeled and chopped

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 onion, diced

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

1 red pepper, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 jalapeno, finely chopped (optional)

2 cloves garlic, sliced thinly

1 can shoepeg white corn and juice, 16 ounces

1 potato, peeled and finely diced (1/4-inch cubes)

1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half or 2-percent milk

salt and pepper to taste

Clean shrimp, putting shells in a saucepan. Cut shrimp into small bite-sized pieces. Set aside. Cover shells with two cups water. Cover pot, bring water to boil, reduce heat, simmer 20 minutes, then drain broth and toss shells. Peel and shop a large potato, cover with water in a pot. Cook about 10 minutes or until done. Drain water into shrimp broth.

Drain juice from one can shoepeg corn into shrimp broth. Sauté corn in tablespoon olive oil. Place corn and cooked potato in a food processor and puree. Add some shrimp broth to make it smooth if needed.

Sauté chopped bacon in a large pot for two minutes. Add onion and sauté another two minutes. Then add red pepper, green pepper, jalapeno and garlic. Sauté about five minutes. Next add one can shoepeg corn with liquid, the other potato, peeled and diced, and the shrimp broth. You should have about 2 ½ or 3 inches of liquid above the vegetables. If not, add water. Simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in pureed corn and potatoes and shrimp. Heat until shrimp turns pink. Stir in cream or milk until you reach a good consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat through. Serve with green salad, hot crusty bread and fruit for dessert.

This recipe is definitely a keeper. Until next week, dear friends, vaya con Dios.