Poblano Corn Chowder

Heart-warming Poblano Corn Chowder is creamy, vegan and full of summertime flavor. Corn, potatoes, and poblano peppers with Mexican spices, in a creamy vegan base. Easy to make and deliciously addicting. Video.

Here’s a cozy fall soup that highlights end-of-summer veggies. I love the chilly nights of September-perfect for soup making. Leftovers get repurposed into midweek lunches and somehow it feels nourishing and satisfying- the gift that keeps on giving!

Why You’ll Love This!

1. Impressive, yet simple! This creamy soup has beautiful, brightly colored ingredients and garnishes that make it just as tasty to look at as it is to eat. What’s even better is that the method is simple and can be prepared in just over 30 minutes.
2. This is a one-pot recipe. All of the ingredients go into the pot, making cooking and clean-up a pinch! You will need the blender for the corn, but once poured into the pot, it gives the soup a rich, creamy texture.
3. Use up your late summer vegetables. Bell pepper, poblano peppers, and corn give this corn chowder a distinct late summer feel that is perfect for making the most of the season’s produce while welcoming in warm comfort food.
4. It is so, so comforting! As we welcome in a colder season, it’s once again time to bring soups back on the menu! We love this particular recipe in late summer and early fall because it’s bright, veggie-ful and not too heavy. A comfort food soup that will leave you feeling energized and vibrant!
5. This recipe is full of healthy ingredients. Did we mention this soup is full of veggies?! In addition to a bounty of fresh produce (onion, bell peppers, poblano, potatoes, corn), this Poblano Corn Chowder is bursting with fragrant spices that are high in antioxidants.

What Is Corn Chowder?

This nourishing soup originates from North America and is a staple dish for transitioning from summer to fall. Between August and October corn is at its very best, and usually its sweetest! In fact, using sweet corn will complement the savory vegetables and potatoes in corn chowder, offering a rich complexity of flavor.

Corn chowder is known for its rich and creamy texture that comes from a traditional base of potatoes and corn. Onions and/or leeks are typically used for their aromatic flavor. And it is common to use butter or bacon to layer in a fat component. We use olive oil to make this a lighter variation of corn chowder that we think fits the late summer season just right!

This creamy soup recipe is almost always prepared with a variety of warming spices that enhance its comforting qualities. In our version, we use cumin, coriander, oregano, and bay leaf.

As a beloved dish at the heart of American cuisine, this soup is meant to be enjoyed with friends and family on chilly evenings. Let this cozy soup bring you feelings of nostalgia and warmth.

Poblano Corn Chowder Ingredients

• Olive oil: This warm, earthy oil will sauté the veggies. But it also adds a subtle hint of fat that adds to the comforting nature of this dish. Olive oil is known for being very grounding, which is exactly the kind of feeling we need when heading into a new season.
• Onion: Diced onion provides an aromatic base for this soup. When sautéed, onions give off a caramelized flavor that helps bring out the sweetness in the corn.
• Red bell pepper: Of all the red bell pepper colors, red bell pepper is the sweetest! It is the perfect complement for the spicier poblano peppers.
• Poblano peppers: The poblano peppers make this variation of corn chowder a bit more toasty, peppery, and spicy. The spice mellows out when cooked, so the soup comes together with a subtle bit of heat that adds to the warm flavor.
• Garlic cloves: Garlic adds another layer of aromatic flavor, making this dish the best kind of savory!
• Potatoes: Use yukon, red, or baby potatoes for this recipe. They provide a subtle sweetness in flavor, but are essential to the soup’s texture. Spoonfuls of potato give each bite a hearty feel. Because of that, this dish can be enjoyed completely on its own! If you really love creamy texture, use a spoon or fork to gently mash some of the potatoes in the pot.
• Veggie broth: You can use vegetable broth or water with broth base or bouillon cubes. Broth helps cook the vegetables and potatoes to perfection, and it adds a bit of salty, savory flavor.
• Salt and pepper: Added with the potatoes, broth, and other spices to bring out all of the rich flavors.
• Spices: Cumin, coriander, oregano, and bay leaf are added for warm, grounding, savory, sweet, earthy, and nutty flavors.
• Corn: Our recipe calls for 4 cups of corn kernels. If making this recipe in late summer or early fall, we recommend using freshly cooked corn for optimal flavor. But when you’re in a pinch (or if enjoying throughout the colder seasons) you can use frozen (thawed) or canned corn.
• Milk: Use regular, soy, almond, or oat milk. The milk is blended with half of the corn to create a creamy sauce that is then stirred into the soup.
• Garnishes: Serve your Poblano Corn Chowder with cilantro, lime, sour cream, or anything else you’d like! Fresh cilantro and lime brighten up the soup to give it that late summer feel.

How to Make Poblano Corn Chowder

Sauté the vegetables. Heat olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat heat. Add the onion, cooking for 3-4 minutes until fragrant, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium and add the bell pepper, poblano peppers, and garlic. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until fragrant.

Add the potatoes, broth, and spices. Add the potatoes, broth, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, oregano, and bay leaf. There should be enough liquid to cover the potatoes. If not, add a little more. Cover the pot and bring to a gentle simmer, cooking until the potatoes are tender. This should take about 10 minutes.

Layer in the corn. Divide the corn into two halves. Place half of the corn in a blender with the milk. Blend until silky smooth.

Pour into the soup pot. Add the remaining corn and stir.

Taste. Taste and adjust the salt to your desired preference. Add a squeeze of lime, if needed.

Serve. Serve the corn chowder with lime wedges and cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream for extra richness if you like.

Expert Tips

1. Control the level of heat: Poblano peppers become milder when cooked, but every once in awhile there is a spicier batch. If you prefer the soup to be less spicy, carefully remove the seeds before chopping the poblano. If you want extra spice, add red pepper flakes along with the rest of the spices when preparing the soup.
2. Get creative with mix-ins: Take a look around your kitchen for any ingredients that might go well in this soup! Fresh, chopped tomatoes, green onions, beans, and even cheese like cotija would make tasty additions.
3. Use frozen or canned corn if you don’t have fresh. If using frozen corn, leave the bag out to thaw beforehand. You can even place the frozen corn in the fridge the night before.

Storing & Reheating

Store the soup in an airtight container or glass jar with a lid. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze this recipe for 2-3 months.

To reheat, add the soup to a saucepan over medium heat until warm all the way through. You can also heat the soup in the microwave for a few minutes.

What to Serve it With

Classic Homemade Cornbread

Sourdough Biscuits

Cheddar Scones with Caramelized Onions

Vegan Cornbread Muffins

Love this recipe? Please let us know in the comments and leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below the recipe card.

Poblano Corn chowder VidEo

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