Maine Corn Chowder Recipes

MAINE CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Using a good sized kettle or soup pot, place 2 slices salt pork in it and cook slowly over low heat until fat is 'tried out'.
• 2. Remove the pieces of salt pork and set aside.
• 3. Add the onion to the pot and cook slowly until the onion is yellowed.
• 4. Add water raw potato, salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a steaming point.
• 5. Lower heat and cook until potato is tender. About 15 minutes.
• 6. Add creamed corn and then the quart of milk. Substiture evaporated milk for some of the regular milk for extra richness, if you wish.
• 7. Taste for seasoning and then add the butter. Reheat slowly.
• 8. Allow chowder to ripen for an hour to develop flavor.

MAINE CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In stock pot, fry bacon until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels.
• Add onion to bacon fat in stock pot; sauté until softened.
• Add potatoes, salt, pepper, and water; bring to steaming point.
• Lower heat and cook until potato is tender (about 15 minutes).
• Add creamed corn and frozen corn. Pour in milk and evaporated milk. Add butter and reheat slowly. Check seasoning; add more salt and pepper if needed.
• Stir in crumbled reserved bacon.
• Serve with oyster crackers.

MAINE LOBSTER AND CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a 12-quart stockpot. Add lobsters, cover, and cook 13 to 15 minutes. Set a colander in a large bowl. Working over colander, snip the tip of each lobster claw to release juices into bowl. Separate lobster meat from shells, and cut into bite-size pieces. Reserve meat and shells separately. Strain cooking liquid through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth into bowl with lobster juices.
• Using the same stockpot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add chopped leek, corncobs, and reserved lobster shells. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add reserved lobster liquid, and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Strain through a cheesecloth-lined sieve. Discard solids.
• Puree 1 cup lobster broth with 1 cup corn kernels. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over low heat. Add sliced leek, and cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle in flour, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in pureed corn mixture, and cook, stirring often, until broth thickens, about 2 minutes. Add remaining lobster broth, raise heat, and simmer. Add zucchini, summer squash, and remaining 2 cups corn, and cook until squashes are tender, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in reserved lobster meat, and heat until warmed through, about 1 minute. Season with salt, and garnish with basil. Serve immediately.

MAINE SHRIMP CHOWDER

Steps:

• Peel shrimp and reserve shell for the shrimp broth. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate them until the chowder base is completed. Place the shrimp shells in a large pot and add 10 cups of cold water. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce to low and gently simmer for 5 minutes, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. Strain the broth through a fine sieve and set aside.
• Cook bacon in a small pot of simmering water for 1 minute. Drain. Heat a medium pot over medium heat; add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it releases some of its fat. Add potatoes and leeks, stir well, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add 3 cups of the reserved shrimp broth (freeze remainder for another use) and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the chowder base from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Raise the heat to high, add the chilled shrimp and cream, stir well, and bring to a boil. Let boil for 30 seconds.
• Add the shrimp mixture to the chowder base and stir gently to combine. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Season with salt, a generous amount of black pepper, and the cayenne. Ladle into warm soup bowls and sprinkle the chives on top.