Description
Comforting shrimp soup with corn and bacon delivers a hearty southern coastal embrace. Rich seafood and smoky bacon create a perfect harmony of flavors that delights diners seeking warmth and satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 can (8.25 oz) cream-style corn
- 1.5 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup whole milk, cream, or half-and-half
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium russet potato, peeled and diced
Aromatic Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1/2 large onion, finely diced
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 celery rib, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
Seasonings and Thickeners:
- 2 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1.5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Old Bay seasoning to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Render bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp and golden, developing rich flavor. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in the pot.
- Sauté diced onions in bacon drippings for 4-5 minutes until translucent and fragrant. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, releasing aromatic oils.
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture, stirring constantly for 1 minute to create a roux and eliminate raw flour taste. Gradually pour in broth, whisking to prevent lumps and scrape up flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
- Incorporate celery, diced potatoes, bay leaf, and thyme into the liquid. Add cream corn and simmer at medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes until potatoes become tender and vegetables are soft.
- Stir in fresh corn kernels and milk, reducing heat to low. Gently simmer for 4-5 minutes until corn reaches tender-crisp texture.
- Season shrimp with Old Bay seasoning. Carefully add to the simmering soup and cook for 3-4 minutes until shrimp turn opaque and are just cooked through.
- Remove bay leaf. Sprinkle chopped parsley and crumbled bacon over the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot.
Notes
- Bacon Crispiness Use thick-cut bacon for extra crunch and richer flavor in the soup.
- Shrimp Perfection Choose medium-sized shrimp to prevent overcooking and maintain tender texture.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend to make the soup suitable for gluten-sensitive diners.
- Vegetarian Transformation Swap shrimp and bacon with plant-based protein like smoked tofu or tempeh, and use vegetable broth for a meat-free version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg