Chile-Cheese Chowder
For a vegetarian soup, substitute 1 tablespoon oil for the bacon drippings and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. Red or green bell peppers can be substituted for the poblano chiles. For optimal creaminess, be sure to add the cheese after removing the soup from the heat; overheated cheese can curdle.
How to Make It
Step 1
Cook the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan. Crumble bacon; set aside.
Step 2
Add carrot and the next 5 ingredients (carrot through garlic) to the drippings in pan; sauté 10 minutes or until browned. Stir in the broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add potato and salt. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until potato is tender.
Step 3
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and milk in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add to pan. Cook over medium heat until thick (about 12 minutes), stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add cheeses, stirring until cheeses melt. Ladle into soup bowls; top with green onions and crumbled bacon.
Step 4
Note: This soup will freeze well for up to two months. Pour into an airtight container, leaving enough room for expansion (usually an inch or two at the top). To reheat, thaw completely in the refrigerator; then place contents in a saucepan over low heat, adding some liquid if necessary.
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WLBETH's Review
Lots of chopping but then pretty easy to make and very delicious. Made without the bacon - for Meatless Monday. Served with garlic flat bread and a salad.
veryslowcook's Review
Really creamy, even though I only used 1/4 cup flour for thickening. Nice level of hot spice. Leftovers can be frozen.
kellergirl's Review
This is a good solid recipe! My whole family liked it and we will make it again. It's basically a potatoe soup with a slight southwestern flair. If you are looking for heat, you'll need to ramp up the spice; more peppers and more cumin. It is yummy with the crumbled bacon and green onion on top. My skinny son added shredded cheese on top too, and came back for seconds.
This is a CL recipe, and I think they could have done a better job of taking the fat and calories out of the recipe. Next time I will try healthy saute with broth for the veggies, and puree some potato to thicken rather than use the flour. I think you could also use nonfat evaporated milk.
jaynerom's Review
This chowder is amazing! Everyone raved about this recipe for days. I did use chunky cut frozen potatoes to save on time. I will put this in regular rotation. Have already had request to make it again.
tara31's Review
We used Morningstar veggie bacon and vegetable broth for a vegetarian chowder. Made the rest as directed and served with CL Confetti Quesadilla - delicious!
zebra73's Review
Really good! Easy to prepare. Leftovers were great. Even my husband who "doesn't like soup" are this twice.
missnicole's Review
Love this soup..sometimes I add roasted corn and grilled chicken. Favorite soup ...everyone agrees!
aideli's Review
yum! everytime i make this recipe people go nuts for it. i make it as a family meal and for guests. the only thing i do different is i use frozen cubed potatoes to save time peeling and cutting, doesn't affect the taste at all. we serve it with a spring salad and crusty bread and it's happiness in a bowl. this gets made at least once or twice a month in our house.
tiffany05's Review
The best soup I've ever made, bar none. Better than anything you could get in a restaurant. I will definitely be making this again!
V E R Y good