Vegetable Chowder

INGREDIENTS

5 cups of water

6 medium sized potatoes (washed thoroughly and diced)

2 tablespoons of oil (I used vegetable)

1 onion diced

1/2 red bell pepper

4 cloves of garlic diced

2 celery stalks diced

1 bunch of parsley

3 carrots chopped and diced

2 ears of corn shucked

1 vegetable bouillon

chives (I used dried) to taste

dill (I used dried) to taste

1 crown of broccoli diced

6 mushroom buttons diced

salt & black pepper to taste

FLEXITARIAN OPTION (items below are optional - see directions on how to make this a "real vegetarian" meal)

2 tablespoons of oil

2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour

1/2 cup of half & half or heavy cream

DIRECTIONS

1.            Start to boil the water in a large stock pot. Once water boils add the chopped carrots, bullion, dried herbs and parsley to the pot.

 

 

2.            In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil and add diced potatoes.  Cover and cook until they start to become slightly translucent and slightly toasted.  When they are almost done, add the onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic.  Lightly sauté the ingredients together.  The aroma will be wonderful!

3.            Add the ingredients in the pan to the pot.  Let them cook down until the potatoes start to thicken the broth. 

4.            FLEXITARIAN OPTIONAL STEP -If you are a full out vegetarian leave this step out.  In the same pan (you want that aroma from before so don't wash the pan out!), heat two tablespoons of oil (some recipes use butter) on medium heat.  Add corn starch or flour.  Mix the starch into the oil and then add the milk.  Mix until smooth.  It will make a gravy. 

5.            Set it to the side and add the broccoli, mushrooms and salt and pepper to the stock pot to taste.  Once the last ingredient cook down, then add the "gravy" in the pan.

6.            Lastly, take about a third of the soup from the pot and put it in the blender for a few seconds to puree it.  This will make the texture smoother.  If you are a vegetarian, this will give your soup a smooth consistency that you may want for this chowder.  Crackers and toast go wonderfully with this soup!

 

Enjoy!