Butternut-Corn Chowder with Goat Cheese Croutons

This soup has become a staple at the Lapiner Family Thanksgiving dinner. Our family has to wait all year for this yummy soup with the crunchy and creamy croutons. It’s a great Fall dish.

ingredients

Goat Cheese Croutons

4 oz chilled soft fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet), cut into 1-inch-thick rounds
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
1/2 C yellow cornmeal
2 tbsp olive oil for frying

Butternut-Corn Chowder

4 oz 1/4-inch-thick slices pancetta or 4 thick bacon slices, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 2 1/4-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, coarsely chopped
4 1/2 C canned roasted-garlic chicken broth or low-salt chicken broth
2 tsp minced canned chipotle chilies*
1 16-ounce bag frozen sweet white corn (unthawed)
2 tsp minced fresh sage for garnish

directions

1
Cut each cheese round into 8 wedges. Place eggs in small bowl. Place cornmeal in another bowl; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, dip cheese into eggs, then into cornmeal, turning to coat. Press cornmeal gently to adhere. Place on baking sheet. Freeze 1 hour.
2
Cook pancetta in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels. Add onion to drippings in pan; sauté until just tender, about 4 minutes. Add butternut squash, broth and chilies; simmer until squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Mix in corn; simmer until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer 3 1/2 cups soup to blender; puree. Mix puree into remaining soup in pan. Season with salt and pepper. (Pancetta and soup can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover pancetta; chill. Chill soup uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Bring pancetta to room temperature before continuing.) Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add frozen cheese; brown well, about 1 minute per side.
3
Meanwhile, bring soup to simmer. Mix in sage. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with pancetta and cheese croutons.

notes

"I really, really want to tell [Aileen] that she is so nice because she takes out stuff to play with ..so Sophia and my friends can have fun. She is a great teacher and a good teacher!" -- Jordyn

Source: Kristen & Kenley