A Real Corn Soup -- Une soupe au vrai maïs
So here we are. The month of September has just arrived. It is really one of the best months in New England. The best month of summer because in fact, it means that we are leaving summer behind. At least, my brain will now be able to function properly. It will no longer feel hazy from too much heat. Oh yes, I have actually been longing for that very moment. I actually prefer September to July or August in the same way I prefer fall to summer. At this time of year, I get up every morning all excited at the prospect of discovering bright, fresh and clear sunny days with blue skies, feeling happy to be able to wear real clothes again, trousers, long-sleeve shirts or a light sweater. As a kid, I always loved September anyway. The smell of "la rentrée" when children went back to school was all exciting to me. I was one of those weird kids feeling excited to walk to school again, even if I would miss les grandes vacances (summer vacation). September was also the month when my mum and dad would also go back to school, to teach. And, it was the time of year when my mum started to cook scrumptious homemade hearty vegetable soups again, to save time, and to feed us well, as she always did.
This being said, I thought about fresh corn because it is still the season around here, and then I remembered lovely Tami from Running with Tweezers. For the second year, she is organizing a Super Soup Challenge, a fun event she is hosting in the memory of her mum. Since I regretfully failed to participate last year -- mind you, not from a lack of loving to eat and prepare soups -- I thought that I wouldn't this year. Surprisingly, I found inspiration to make the following corn soup from the latest copy of the French magazine Elle à Table -- who would have thought that real corn, a.k.a. corn on the cob in my world, is even mentioned in French food magazines -- but then I ended up modifying the recipe ingredients and quantities to share my recipe with you. I used plenty of fresh herbs like chervil and parsley to boost the soup in freshness, and ground paprika to give it a smoky, peppery taste, a great balance I thought, next to the sweetness of the corn.
And do you know what? It was extremely simple to make, and tasted delicious. I only wished that my mum could believe me, and I could offer her a bowl of this soup. She might change her mind and even start to like corn. And, perhaps she would suddenly feel the urge to drive to town to buy fresh corn ears too.
Who knows what corn on the cob can do?
Corn Soup with Fresh Herbs and Paprika
- 4 corn ears*
- 1 + 1/4 cups whole milk
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
- Touch of paprika
- Mix of chervil and parsley
- Cook the corn ears (without the husks) in salted water for 15 min. Rinse them and cut the kernels off with a sharp knife.
- Place the milk and cream in a pot with the corn kernels (keep a few on the side). Add the herbs, salt and pepper and a touch of paprika, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 min.
- Stop the heat and mix the soup in a blender.
- Serve with fresh herbs, the reserved corn, and fresh paprika. Do not forget a hearty piece of country bread too.
Le coin français
Soupe au maïs, herbes fraîches et paprika
- 4 épis de maïs*
- 300 ml de lait entier
- 150 ml de crème liquide
- Sel et poivre
- Paprika moulu
- Mélange de persil et de cerfeuil, hachés
- Faites cuire les épis de maïs nettoyés de leur foin dans de l'eau bouillante salée, pendant 15 min. Rinsez les épis sous de l'eau froide. Avec un couteau aiguisé, coupez les grains de maïs.
- Mettez le lait et la crème dans une grande casserole avec les grains de maïs (gardez-en quelques uns de côté). Ajoutez les herbes et une pincée de paprika. Faites cuire sur feu doux pendant 15 min.
- Retirez du feu et mixez la soupe finement dans un robot.
- Servez la soupe avec des herbes fraîches, les grains de maïs gardés de côté et un peu de paprika. N'oubliez pas non plus une belle tranche de pain de campagne.
Technorati Tags: Food Styling, La Tartine Gourmande, Food Photography, Corn Soup, Paprika, Chervil
59 Comments
T Terry, SeductionMeals ·
F fran ·
T Tisha ·
D Delphine ·
L Lydia ·
B barbara ·
A At home with Kim Vallee ·
K Kat ·
K keiko ·
V veron ·
P peabody ·
M mauvesky ·
F fanny ·
O ombre.blanche ·
B Béa ·
J Julie ·
R Rasa Malaysia ·
M mallory elise ·
T tongue in cheek ·
N Nora ·
S Stephen ·
J joey ·
M Mango Power Girl ·
A Adeline ·
M Maryann ·
V Verena ·
W Wendy ·
S Sophie ·
J johanna ·
A Anh ·
A Anali ·
M MyKitchhenInHalfCups ·
G GTO ·
M matylda ·
$ $ha ·
E Ellie ·
C Cate O'Malley ·
D David ·
P Paula ·
P ParisBreakfasts ·
R Rosa ·
C cammu ·
M marion ·
C Casey ·
Y YOYO's FOOD ·
B Betty C. ·
H Hillary ·
L lemongrass.citronelle ·
F Fedouce ·
B Béa ·
R Raina ·
M Micael ·
K Karen ·
C Cacalotl ·
D Dévorer les livres ·
J Janine ·
K K. Tighe ·
G grasshopper80 ·
M Mariana ·