Cold Corn Soup for Summer Recipe
A refreshing and creamy Cold Corn Soup perfect for summer, made from fresh corn kernels simmered in a flavorful homemade corn stock with aromatic vegetables and herbs, finished with cream, blended smooth, and served chilled. This elegant soup captures the sweet essence of corn and is ideal as a light starter or a cool summer treat.
- Author: Clara
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Soup Base
- 8 ears yellow corn (use frozen corn as an alternative)
- 3 litres / 3 quarts water
- 100g / 7 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 onion, finely sliced
- 1 celery stalk, sliced
- 1/2 leek (white part only), finely sliced (can substitute 1/2 onion)
- 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1 cup full-fat cream
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 bay leaf (preferably fresh, otherwise dried)
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
Garnish
- Extra corn kernels, sautéed in butter until golden with a pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup green onion, finely sliced
- Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or basil oil
- Cut off kernels: Carefully cut the corn kernels off the cobs and transfer them into a bowl for later use. Set the empty cobs aside.
- Corn stock: Cut the cobs in half and place them into a large pot with 3 litres of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the stock; it should measure around 2 litres. If there is too much liquid, continue simmering to reduce it; if less, add water to reach 2 litres.
- Prepare sachet: Create a small bundle using a piece of cheesecloth, placing the bay leaf, thyme sprigs, black peppercorns, and coriander seeds inside. Tie securely with cooking twine.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the finely sliced onion, celery, leek, and chopped garlic. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and become fragrant.
- Cook corn kernels: Add the fresh corn kernels to the sautéed vegetables and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavor.
- Simmer soup: Pour the prepared corn stock into the pot with the corn and aromatics. Add the herb and spice sachet. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Add cream: Stir in the full-fat cream and cook for an additional 3 minutes to warm through.
- Blend and sieve: Remove the sachet from the pot. Blend the soup in batches at high speed until smooth. To prevent splattering or explosions, either cool the soup before blending or blend with the blender lid’s feeding tube open and covered by a folded tea towel.
- Strain soup: Pass the blended soup through a fine sieve to achieve a silky smooth texture, removing any residual solids.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and add more salt as needed to balance flavors.
- Chill and serve: Allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then transfer to the fridge to chill completely. The soup can also be served cool, at room temperature, or gently warmed based on preference.
- Serving suggestion: Serve in elegant shot glasses as a canapé, in tea cups as a starter, or in bowls as a light meal. Garnish with sautéed corn kernels, finely sliced green onion, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or basil oil for an added flavor boost.
Notes
- Frozen corn can be used as a substitute if fresh corn is unavailable, but fresh ears impart the best flavor.
- To avoid blender-related accidents with hot liquids, blend in small batches or vent the blender lid carefully.
- The soup tastes wonderful chilled but can also be served warm if preferred.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute cream with coconut milk or another creamy plant-based alternative and use vegan butter.
- Basil oil enhances the garnish with a bright, herbal note, but extra virgin olive oil works beautifully as well.
Keywords: cold corn soup, summer soup, creamy corn soup, chilled soup, corn recipes, vegetarian soup, fresh corn recipe