Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Simply Delicious Slow Cooker Chowder

Chowder. Corn, potato, clam, crab...there are endless ways to make your chowder, so how about a recipe that allows you to customize it to *your* taste?

This chowder recipe starts with a basic potato, celery, carrot and corn base. Perfectly simple to make, you place all these ingredients with merely a cup of water (don't worry, it is enough water), salt and pepper in your slow cooker to cook all day. When you're ready to eat you have a chowder base you can alter to your heart's content!

You can keep the chowder vegetarian and add only the remaining ingredients of paprika, milk and cheese. You can power up the vegetables and add steamed broccoli or peas, or whatever you desire. Or you can go fancy-schmancy and add some seafood. We love it with some crab.

However you make this chowder, it will be perfectly suited for you.


Simply Delicious Slow Cooker Chowder

1 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
4 cups finely diced potato (about 1/4 - 1/2 inch dice)
2 cups finely diced celery
2 cups finely diced carrot
15-16 ounces frozen corn
1 tablespoon corn starch
3 cups skim milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
1 teaspoon paprika
Add ins: steamed broccoli, or 1/2 pound of either crab, clams or shrimp

Combine the water, salt, pepper, potato, celery, carrot, corn and cornstarch in a slow cooker. Stir well. Cook on HI for 5-6 hours, LOW for 10-12 hours. If desired, puree 1-2 cups to make a thicker chowder--you can do this in a food processor, blender or using an immersion blender.

Before serving, add the milk, cheddar and paprika, stirring well to melt the cheese. Add any additional desired ingredients.

Serve and top with fresh parsley and oyster crackers, if desired.

Serves 8 (and freezes well).

Life is sweet,
SPC

6 comments:

Helen Cosner said...

do you think I could make this with Sweet Potatoes?

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Helen, it couldn't hurt to try! I say go for it!! IF you do, let me know how it turns out.

Anonymous said...

Made this for a cozy football Sunday dinner. Included onion and garlic in the mix and threw a couple cans of minced clams at the end. It was yummy, a definite keeper. Thanks!

Judy said...

I made this last night with yellow split lentils. Turned out really thick - but yummy! I added low fat chicken andouille sausage. BTW - I live in your old Alexandria neighborhood and our mutual friend LD, told me about your blog!

donna said...

would you add in the shri
p towards the end of the cook or you can just put it in with everything else? btw, just found you through Pinterest ... love your blog already!

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Hi Donna,

I add the shrimp just at the very end! Thanks for your kind words!

SPC