Bursting with flavor, my easy corn soup recipe is veggie-packed, nutritious and the perfect combination of sweet, spicy and creamy. This delicious soup takes advantage of fresh corn season (although you can use frozen corn too!) and in a matter of minutes, you will have your soup on the stove ready to simmer.
My kids' favorite soup
The summer before she turned 2, my daughter went through a corn craze. She could chow down an entire cob of corn in a matter of minutes, going through 2-3 fresh corn cobs in a single sitting. For a kid that weighed about 20 pounds, that was fairly impressive.
My son was not far behind. He demanded corn for lunch, dinner and occasionally, in his cheese arepas for breakfast. So, I had to satisfy their corn cravings - and this soup came to be.
It was the perfect balance between the sweet flavor of corn on the cob, the creamy texture that kids love, and the flavorings and spices that appeal to me as an adult with an a developed palette. The fact it was easy to freeze made it a hit for meal prep, too.
I must have made this sweet corn soup about 10 times last summer alone. With the rate things are going, I expect to make it 20 times more this year!
What Is Sweet Corn?
This high fibrous vegetable is packed full of folate (perfect for pregnant women!), Vitamins B and C, magnesium and potassium. It has huge benefits to the wellbeing of our body by creating healthy red blood cells, providing energy and combatting fatigue.
Corn kernels (fresh or frozen) make for a hearty meal that helps you stay fuller for longer - and my Mexican street corn soup recipe offers a comforting dish that highlights this sweet seasonal vegetable's vibrant flavor and wonderfully satisfying texture.
Mexican inspired cuisine
As you probably know by now, I love to travel. But what I love most about travelling (aside from making wonderful memories with my family and friends), is exploring the food on offer.
I already shared with you in a previous post my Matzo brei chilaquiles recipe which is a Mexican twist on traditional matzo brei, inspired by my travels. Each time I visit, there are always new ideas that find their way into my kitchen.
Mexican cuisine is renown for its layers flavors and spices, and also its ability to bring people together for any occasion. Think nachos or mini corn in a cup appetizers in front of the Sunday sports game, or Halloween parties with my Mexican Skeleton Elote. There is something about their way of cooking, their presentation and the type of meals they specialize in that is so appealing.
Want to learn more about Mexican cuisine? You can find my entire Mexican recipe archive right here.
Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian
My sweet corn soup is a simple, easy to follow recipe that is naturally gluten-free and vegetarian. It is hearty, flavorful and you will love this recipe, I have no doubt!
Ingredients
- Whole corn cobs: Also known as fresh summer corn, it is our main feature ingredient of today's corn chowder! Use fresh corn if you have access to it, but you may also use frozen corn too. Substitute 4 cups of frozen or canned corn kernels for fresh corn cobs if desired.
- Onions, Carrots, Potatoes, Celery stalks: In addition to the corn on the cob, these other nutritious vegetables provide the heartiness of this soup.
- Garlic cloves, turmeric, salt and black pepper, olive oil and water: The spices and base ingredients for the soup.
- Sour cream, jalapeno (or other chili), chili flakes, green onions: these condiments are optional, but really add flavor to the soup.
See recipe card for detailed quantities
Equipment
- Chopping board and knife
- Large soup pot
- Blender or Food Processor
- Slotted spoon
I recently upgraded to a Ninja and I will NEVER go back. One base for a food processor, smoothie cup AND blender? Sign me up!
Step-by-step instructions
Prepare the vegetables
Using the cutting board and knife, chop the celery and peel and cube the onions, carrots and potatoes.
Create the vegetable stock
First, heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery into the pot and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onions become translucent.
Add the garlic, turmeric, salt, and black pepper to the mix and stir for a few seconds. (It should smell delicious!)
Next, add in the corn cobs and pour boiling water over them until it almost reaches the tops of the cobs. Then, bring your stock to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Make the soup
Once the potatoes and carrots are soft, remove the corn from the mix and let them cool slightly. Once cooled, cut the kernels of, reserving 1 cup of kernels to to be kept whole. Add the remaining kernels to a blender or food processor.
Next, remove the other vegetables from the soup with a slotted spoon and add them to the blender. Blend until smooth, adding some soup liquid if necessary. (Blend in batches if needed).
Once all of the vegetables have been blended, return them to the soup pot and add in the reserved 1 cup corn kernels to the mix.
Reheat
Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. (Add more boiling water if you prefer a thinner soup.)
Serve hot, garnished with chopped green onions, sour cream or chili, if desired.
Accompanying Dishes
Want more Mexican corn recipes? Try my Spiced Mexican Street Corn recipe for a grilled corn that is bursting with tangy herbs, sharp spices and creamy cheese. Or try something different with my sweet and spicy gluten-free Mexican Cornbread (by far, one of my ultimate food cravings!).
For an amazing soup and grilled cheese combo, try my eggplant grilled cheese.
Other soups to try
I love soup - can you guess? See below a list of some of my favorites:
Bell pepper bisque - Make use of produce you have in your refrigerator!
Jewish chicken soup - Also known as Jewish penicillin for its health benefits.
Shiitake broth - A versatile base for a multitude of meals including soups, risottos and more.
Recipe
Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.
Easy Fresh Sweet Corn Soup Recipe (Using cobs or frozen corn)
Equipment
- Chopping board and knife
Ingredients
- 6 whole corn cobs or substitute 4 cups of frozen or canned kernels for fresh corn cobs
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 potatoes peeled and cubed
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves crushed
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Boiling water
- Sour cream optional, for serving
- Jalapeno or other chili optional, for serving
- Chili flakes optional, for serving
- Green onions optional for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent.
- Add the garlic, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Stir for a few seconds.
- Add the corn and pour in boiling water until it almost reaches the top of the cobs.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove the cooked corn and let cool slightly. Cut the kernels off, reserving 1 cup.
- Add the remaining kernels to a blender or food processor. Remove vegetables from the soup with a slotted spoon and add to the blender (blend in batches if needed). Blend until smooth, adding some soup liquid if necessary.
- Return the blended mixture to the soup pot. Add reserved 1 cup corn kernels.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add more boiling water if you prefer a thinner soup.
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped green onions, sour cream or chili, if desired.
Notes
- Substitute 4 cups of frozen or canned corn kernels for fresh corn cobs if desired.
- This soup can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
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