Corn And Lobster French Onion Chowder with Gruyère Toasties.
Ingredients
3-4 (8 ounce) lobster tails (optional)*
4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 sweet onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
2 sprigs fresh thyme
salt and pepper
4 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups white wine or beer (12 ounces)*
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
4 ears fresh corn, kernels removed
1 cup heavy cream or half and half
1/2 a lemon, juiced
1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped (I used basil)
1 french baguette, sliced
4 ounce gruyere cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Once boiling drop in your lobster tails. Boil for 5-10 minutes or until your tails turn bright red (it only took mine about 6 minutes). Drain the water and allow the tails to cool.
- Heat a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon from the pan and set aside on a paper towel to drain.
- To the pot add the butter, onions, thyme and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Continue cooking and scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan frequently, until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Once the onions are caramelized, add the flour and garlic. Stir the flour with the onions to make a roux, cook about 1 minute. Slowly pour in the wine and chicken broth. Add the corn.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile cut down the back and front of the lobster and pull the meat away from the shell. Dice or shred the lobster meat.
- After the soup has simmered about 10 minutes add the cream and simmer another 5 minutes. Squeeze half a lemon over the soup, season with salt and pepper. Stir in the lobster and fresh basil. Preheat the the broiler to high.
- Ladle the soup into oven safe soup crocks. Top with a slice or two from the french baguette and a handful of shredded gruyere cheese. Place under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minutes (WATCH CLOSE!!). Garnish with bacon. Eat hot. Enjoy!!
Tieghan Says:
*If lobster is too expensive try swapping in shrimp or just leave the lobster out. The soup is delicious and cozy either way.
*Both wine and beer work, but beer adds a little more of a hearty flavor. I have used both and find I think I like the beer better.
