The countdown has begun! Three weeks today, Jesse and I will be jetting off for an adventure in Europe! We will be visiting Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands and Belgium. It’s going to be an amazing whirlwind experience full of amazing food, beautiful sites and lots of new people. I cannot wait! But to be honest…I am really going to miss my kitchen! *haha* We have booked a few rooms through AirB&B where we will be staying with locals and have access to their kitchens. I am really hoping some of them will let me cook them dinner! Or perhaps, they could even teach me how to make some of local fare!
I have been busy looking up vegetarian and vegan restaurants to try in Europe during our summer abroad. Lots of great places to try! I cannot wait!!! I am really looking forward to trying authentic food from each location we visit. I am hoping to post a lot while we’re away to document our adventures and report on the food situation in each place. Any suggestions on what to see, eat and/or do while in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands and/or Belgium?
And now…onto the recipe! I’ve had this idea to make a corn chowder using coconut milk for some time. Finally, I found some time to throw it together and it was amazing!!! It’s creamy with bright, fresh flavours. I opted to use frozen fresh corn, as corn is not yet in season here. But I know it will be even better once fresh corn is popping up at the farmer’s markets. This recipe comes together in 30 minutes and can be served hot or cold. Serve chilled for a delicious, cool dinner on a hot evening this summer. If you like corn chowder, check out my recipe for Mexican Corn Chowder with Quinoa. It’s another family fav :)
In other more important news, I want to congratulate my best friends Patrick and Stephanie on the arrival of their beautiful baby girl Ruby! I am so happy for you guys. She is just beautiful and so very sweet. So shiny and new! I am so glad that everyone is happy, healthy and settling into being a new family of three. Ruby, I cannot wait to spoil you rotten! :) xoxo
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of grated ginger (or 1 teaspoon of ground ginger)
- 1 tablespoon of canola oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of Madras curry powder or your favourite curry powder
- 4 cups of low sodium vegetable stock
- 3 and 1/2 cups of fresh corn (frozen is fine)
- 1-14 ounce can of coconut milk (lite is fine)
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish
Method
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until soft and translucent (about 5 minutes). Add minced garlic, grated ginger and sugar. Sauté another 5 minutes or until the onions start to brown slightly.
- Sprinkle onions with Madras curry powder. If using ginger powder, add along side the curry powder. Stir until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add low-sodium vegetable broth followed by the fresh corn. Bring soup to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Simmer soup for 5 minutes then remove soup from heat and purée with an immersion blender. You can also use a regular blender or food processor. Just make sure to cover the lid with a towel to prevent injury. Blend until smooth.
- Return soup to pot and stir in the coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper. Cook another 10 minutes over low-medium heat to allow the flavours to develop. Garnish with cilantro or parsley.
Source: adapted from Bon Apétit online
Chowder looks fab. Where will you be in Spain? I know places mostly in the South but also some in Madrid.
We are starting our trip in Barcelona and staying for 5 days. Then onto Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands and Belgium. I wish we had more time to see Madrid. And I’d love to stop off in Portugal too. But we decided we’ll do a trip to Portugal and the rest of Spain in a few years. We agreed to try a few more northern countries this summer first :) Any recommendations for Barcelona?
I’ve visited it a couple of times but I don’t remember any specific veggie places. The good thing about BCN is that there are veggie options in a lot of places unlike the rest of Spain. (It’s more international than other Spanish cities) Just watch out for hidden animal fats – especially found in stews with chick peas/lentils and some biscuits and pastries. Have a great holiday. I find Happy Cow to be very accurate about vegetarian restaurants etc in Spain.
Okay, the chowder looks amazing – but the trip?! That is great! I will be departing in just over 3 weeks for a 24 day tour of Europe with my sister. We will be going to Sweden, Norway, England, Spain, Czech Republic and The Netherlands. so.excited.
Very cool! We are going to a lot of the same places!!! Where are you starting? We are starting in Barcelona and then through Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands and Belgium. I’d love to try and get to Norway or Sweden too! England is wonderful. Have you been before? So many amazing things to see and do there! And lots of tasty food! Hope you have an incredible trip! Will you be blogging about your adventures while you are away? I’ll follow along for sure!
Great photo, love the bowls!
Thanks mom! We need to go back to that store, so I can buy more! *hehe*
This chowder sounds fabulous! Coconut milk and corn, together at last. :)
SO true! I don’t know why I didn’t try it sooner! Such a nice way to use summer corn :)
Love the soup it is on my recipe to try. To what cities you will go in the netherlands? i am from the netherlands so I know some places also in stockholm and berlin and belgium I know some if you are intrested…