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Chicken, lentil & sweetcorn chowder
How’s the weather over at your end? Here it is cold and miserable at the moment. There is still snow but it is melting and instead we get rain. I think I prefer the snow to be honest.. 
(did I tell you already that the Dutch are notorious for their complaining about the weather?? It’s never good, too cold, too warm, too hot plus we like to talk about… a lot… Ofcourse I am not a typical Dutch person.. ) I was supposed to have an appointment in the studio but the lady just cancelled. Is it weird if I go “YEAH” after she cancelled? It would – ofcourse – potentially be a new customer, so I should be said and crying in the corner of my office. Not so much…
Because the weather is soooooo cold and miserable a nice hot soup for lunch is always very comforting. I was going through the new issue of Good Food and saw this lovely chowder. Now if you ask me when something is a chowder and when something is just a regular soup; I have no idea. So I looked it up in Wikipedia and according to the description; Chowder is any of a variety of soups (duh…), enriched with salt pork fatback and thickened with flour or more traditionally with crushed ship biscuit or saltine crackers, and milk. To some Americans, it means clam chowder, made with cream or milk in most places, or with tomato.
The word chowder comes from the cooking pot in which is it cooked, known in French as Chaudiere, from Latin caldaria (akin to English cauldron).
So I kind of feel like Harry Potter now, stirring my chowder in a cauldron..
This is a very light variety and the taste is fabulous. It’s relatively quick although it does need a little bit of cooking time, but it’s worth the wait! Perfect for a cold winterday! (this is ofcourse to make up for posting a cucumber soup in the middle of winter, although technically the other part of the world has winter so there is always something for someone.)
CHICKEN, LENTIL AND SWEETCORN CHOWDER
Ingredients: (serves 4)
4 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
850 ml chicken stock
250 gr potatoes, diced
300 ml skimmed milk
250 gr boneless, skinless chickenbreast, cut into small pieces
140 gr frozen or canned sweetcorn
410 gr Puy lentils or green lentils, rinsed and drained
chopped chives, to serve (optional)
1. Place the spring onions in a large pan with 6 tbsp of stock and seasoning. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the potatoes, the rest of the stock and the milk. Bring to the boil an simmer gently, partially covered, for 10 mins or until the potatoes are just tender. Ladle out about a quarter of the mixture into a blender and whizz until smooth. Stir back into the pan.
2. Add the chicken, sweetcorn and lentils to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes more or until the chicken is cooked. Check the seasoning and serve in warm bowls, scattered with chopped chives (if using).
Obviously this is very easy to make into a vegetarian meal. I loved the little bits of chicken in the soup but it would be just as tasty without or maybe with some other veggies added in there. I would say great base soup for lots of different ‘chowders’ (always make me think of a baby shower…)
If you liked that post, then try these...
Risotto! Daring Cooks march 2010 by Simone (junglefrog)
Tomato bruschetta and pasta with cream and sausages; Cooking Italy! by Simone (junglefrog)
Cooking course is back!! by Simone (junglefrog)
Creamy pasta; then and now... by Simone (junglefrog)
Tagliatelle with saffron, bacon and peas by Simone (junglefrog)
Your soup series looks fab Simone! I didn’t realize the Dutch were famous for complaining about the weather – I thought it was just YOU! haha… kidding! Seriously though, the soup looks like such a hearty dish I wouldn’t mind having bad weather if I could curl up with a bowl of this.
Yum! I love chowders AND soups! The ingredients all sound wonderful and like Trissa I wouldn’t mind a break from the humid weather to enjoy this wonderful soup!
I’m lovin the looks of this soup. I can almost imagine the crunchy corn kernels..
LOL Ohioans and Dutch have that in common then, they are never happy with the weather and talk about it all the time! I could use a big bowl of that chowder right now. This cold that was supposed to last 2 days is lingering in my body
I think the Americans share the Dutch obsession with weather too. Your chowder looks absolutely delicious. Perfect for a cold day.
Gorgeous photos and a very hearty and tasty-looking chowder.
We are having unreasonably pleasant weather here, but I am not complaining! Whatever the weather, this is something I could have any time and a book at the end of the couch.
This chowder has my name all over it!! I have such an obsession with the weather too. Perfect lunch or dinner!
Lovely chowder Simone! Actually I also had no idea what was the difference between soup and chowder. Thanks for making this clear to me. I might have a bowl or two now…
Btw. all snow has now completely melted in London and it’s raining again! 
I’m in West Africa now, n its insanely hot ! I mean i have the aircon + 2 ceiling fans on ! Nonetheless this soup would be gr8 in any weather. Love the combination of flavours !
It’s been jacket weather with sun shining here. Wait an hour; it could change. Nashville winters are fairly sunny and in the 50-60’s. Spring brings cold damp rain.
Your soup fits that kind of weather perfectly. In Pennsylvania, we have a thing called chicken corn soup (from the Amish) and that has good memories.
This is a beautiful soup. So good to have this under the rainy season.
I would not have thought of combining lentils and corn together, but the soup looks really good!
Mmmm, I love corn soup! This would really hit the spot right now!
I want a bowl of that soup! It’s so cold and miserable. and it might snow again soon…
Holy moly your blog is stunning. I love your work. Just love it.
It’s warm here although it shouldn’t be. We are usually covered in 2 feet of snow. I have no idea what is going on. Weird huh?
Laura
Oh, people in Seattle complain about the weather all the time too
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I’ve got no plans this weekend. Poffertjes?
Its definitely cold here too, but this looks like a fabulous way to warm up =D.
What a delicious and comforting chowder! It’s hard to imagine it’s cold by looking at your vibrant, beautiful photos!
I love corn soup and I love chowder. Now I could have both in one soup, fantastic! Beautifully litted and crisp photos, just love them
Simone, I have something for you at…
http://bakeinparis.blogspot.com/2010/01/grateful.html
I’m almost always complaining about the weather too, but right now, it’s not bad at all. Your chowder looks fantastic, and I love the lentils in it.
I’ve met a number of corn chowders in my life — and I’ve loved them all. But, I’ve never come across one with lentils! It’s a fine idea, and one I’ll have to remember to implement. Great stuff!