I figured my last post was long enough without the details of the chowder making, but for those of you who may be interested in trying it, and because I went to the trouble of taking pictures of the process, here it is.
NOTE: Please do yourself a favor and call ahead to your favorite seafood mart and order your lobster(s) COOKED. Amen. (Just be sure to get him still in his shell because you will need the shell for the stock.)
I used this recipe, but I only used one lobster and I halved the rest of the ingredients. It was really only enough chowder for two adults, but we managed to spread it among the five of us. It would have been a perfect meal for two with artisan bread and a salad. Or it would make a nice appetizer for a fancy dinner party.
So. Once you have your THOROUGHLY COOKED lobster, you will want to separate the meat from the shell, reserving the shells for the stock, and discarding the body.
Then it’s time for the corn.
Ideally, fresh corn would be in season, but I bought frozen corn on the cob. I cooked it just enough so that I could cut the corn off the cob, but not until it was thoroughly cooked and mushy. Reserve the corn cobs for the stock, and set the corn kernels aside for the soup.
There are two parts to this recipe — the stock and the soup. They will be combined at the very end.
Now it’s time to start the stock. Chop an onion, and saute half of it in butter a Dutch oven. (Save the other half for the soup.)
Next comes the good part.
Yes, ma’am.
Pour some cream sherry and paprika into the pot with the onions and simmer for a minute while allowing the aroma to penetrate your senses. Ahhhhh….
Add the milk, cream, wine, lobster shells and their juices, and the corn cobs, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile dice up some bacon. Oh yeah, baby! Brown the bacon until it’s crispy and delicious. While that’s cooking, chop up your veggies.
Once the bacon is crispy and brown, remove it from the pan and save it for later. Then add the veggies to the bacon fat and saute gently.
I didn’t add the corn at this point because I had already cooked it and I didn’t want it to be mushy. But if you’re using fresh, you’d want to throw that in here too.
When the stock is done, remove the shells and corn cobs to the trash, and pour through a sieve into the pot of veggies.
After that simmered for a bit and the veggies are nice and soft, add the lobster meat and corn if you haven’t already. Garnish with chives and bacon. (I used parsley because I don’t grow chives. And also, I put the bacon right in the soup, but I think it would be better as a garnish.)
Serve and enjoy!
I’ve never had Lobster Corn Chowder but that looks so good that I’m going to be craving it for the rest of the day. mmmm
Drooool. I don’t even really like lobster (I know, the shame) but this looks awesome. There was an Italian restaurant around our old apartment that had a shrimp soup with sherry that was just to die for.
So, who else is ready for lunch?!
Jessie
Ok…I am officially starving!
Hey, I hope you’ll stop by my blog today. It is my first blogoversary. I am taking a look back at some of my favorite and most memorable posts! Thanks again for your continued support and bloggy friendship this past year!
It looks wonderful. I’m just not sure if I have the patience to get all of the lobster meat out of the shell…
Oh that part’s nothing! Truly. It was so easy.
Ohh this makes me hungry at 9AM! Look wonderful 🙂
Can you please, please, PLEASE come to my house and make that. It looks SOOOO good right now! WOW!
Jo-Lynne, this looks so yummy! I love Lobster chowder! It just seems like so much work for one person, because no one will eat it here but me:( I take the easy way out and go to one of my fave restaurants and order it…by the BREAD bowl!! LOL! :O)
Impressive. Honestly. I made cupcakes from a mix today and was impressed with myself. And you have to take pictures so I can wonder how it is you manage to cook that meal without destroying your entire kitchen and looking harried? I might have to give your blog up just to protect my self-esteem! 🙂
Oh please. You don’t see me when it’s all over. I’m worthless. 🙂
Glad you got your chowder. It looks good!
That looks absolutely divine. We are lobster deprived down here. Now, she crab soup on the other hand, we can do that.
The chowder looks yummy! I may have to make some of that. Fresh lobsters have been really cheap lately, so I may have to call upon my friend(who lives on the ocean) to grab us a few so I can make this meal!
Oh my. If I can ever afford lobster (or find any fresh here in the middle of the country), I’ll be sure to try this. Looks amazing!
These pictures make me salivate. I have vivid memories of a lobster corn chowder I savored in Maine 6 years ago. Haven’t been able to recreate that moment. Perhaps this recipe will do the trick. Thanks for sharing it!
I am in awe of the beautiful photos! And now I’m hungry! 🙂
WOW this looks so delicious and nutritious – I’m totally making this. Thank you so very much for sharing!!!
Girlfriend! How was it that my Maine sensor didn’t go off with this post! This looks absolutely fabulous! Oh yum!
Gonna have to have my brother send me down some fresh lobsters and make my Mom (who’s visiting from Maine) cook them for me! LOL! My brother still has a few traps that he maintains up there so maybe I can talk him into it!!
Big hugs girlie!
Kim