Creamy Winter Vegetable Chowder

I could have picked something more suitable to an 85 degree day than this pot of glorious soup, but I'm not sure a salad would have been quite as delicious. 

The chowder's a real keeper, loaded with vitamins from a host of winter veggies including parsnips, carrots, fennel, butternut squash and subtle herb flavors and a really creamy consistency from the bechamel sauce. I found I needed to do some tasting and adjusting by adding more herbs, lots of salt, pepper and nutmeg but it was pure pleasure having to try it all out a spoonful at a time to get the flavors just right. 

We have Rachael Ray to thank for this one and thank her we should. I changed a few ingredients - used sherry instead of wine, and dried herbs instead of fresh even though I have a ton of rosemary and thyme growing outside - hey I'm scared of bees and there's a lot of them buzzing around right now because absolutely everything is in blossom. 

Also I topped the bowls off with some freshly grated Madrigal, a French/Swiss cheese with a glorious nutty taste and incredible "meltability" and we enjoyed slices of rustic crusty bread, warm from the oven rather than Rachael's recommended parmesan cheese croutons. Changing recipes is a right of passage for all cooks, or at least it should be, so I don't feel guilty about adding my touch. Next time I whip up a pot, I might even add some bacon or sausage to the mix to appease my resident carnivore. 

Creamy Winter Vegetable Chowder (from JBug’s Kitchen adapted from Rachael Ray)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 carrots, thinly sliced

2 ribs celery finely diced

2 leeks, white and light green parts only, well washed, cut in half and thinly sliced

3 parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced

2 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 small fennel bulb, washed, and finely chopped

1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 large bay leaves

1/4 teaspoon each thyme, marjoram, rosemary (or more as needed)

1/2 cup dry sherry

2 cups chicken stock

Heat oil in bottom of a large Dutch oven until shimmering. Add garlic, onions, carrots and celery and cook until onion starts to soften and slightly brown. Add leeks and cook a minute more, stirring constantly. Add parsnips, potatoes, fennel, and squash. Season well with salt and pepper. Add bay leaves and herbs cover pot and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and add sherry. Cook, scraping any browned bits off the bottom until sherry is almost entirely reduced, then add chicken stock. Return cover to the pot, lower heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes until veggies are soft.

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

3 cups whole milk

Salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

Melt butter in a medium pot and when melted add flour. Cook whisking constantly for 1 to 2 minutes or until roux is slightly golden in color. Whisk in milk and cook until mixture thickens and barely comes to a boil, whisking constantly. Add salt, pepper and freshly ground nutmeg. Stir béchamel sauce into chowder and simmer for 5 minutes.

Fresh parsley

Grated Madrigal or Swiss cheese

Serve soup garnished with chopped parsley and grated cheese.   Makes 6 to 8 servings. 

A year ago - Cottage (Shepherd's) Pie 

Two year's ago - Chicken Marbella

Comments

[Lorraine]

This would be perfect at my house right now! Cold and wet. I love to sit at the counter with my hand wrapped around a warm bowl of rich, filling soup.

[June]

Lorraine, I couldn't help but think how much more suitable it would have been for you right now than for us. Are you warming up/drying out yet? I can assume from your messages that the power's back on.

[Lea]

Too hot here today with all our yard work for this bowl of lusciousness - but I can imagine myself making that during the week!

[June]

Hot and dry here too Lea but there's a storm coming in tomorrow and Monday. We're supposed to get temps in the 50's and RAIN ...glorious rain.

[Lorraine]

We had power back on (but internet was out for longer)right away, but friends out where you are going to be renting this summer just got power back yesterday. Currently not raining but it will.

[June]

Wow - I guess a generator and wood burning stove would be almost essential. Glad you're back to normal.