Corn Free Chowder

Asked by elkelmabs. Answered on 27th February 2020

Full question

I have a serious corn allergy and wondered what would be a viable alternative to sweetcorn in Nigella's Asian Chowder? I know chowder's not chowder without sweetcorn, however it's been a long time and I would love to be able to eat it again! Thanks!

Chowder With Asian Flavours — Photo by Lis Parsons

Chowder With Southeast Asian Flavours

By Nigella

Our answer

Nigella's Chowder With Southeast Asian Flavours (from NIGELLA EXPRESS) is made with both baby corn and sweetcorn, both of which would need to be omitted if there is a corn allergy. As corn is not used to thicken the soup, substitutions are slightly easier.

You could use either frozen peas or shelled edamame (soy beans) to replace the canned sweetcorn and these should be added at step 3, at the same time as the prawns (shrimp). To replace the baby corn you could just use slightly more leeks and potatoes. If you wanted a little more variety in vegetables then mangetout (snow peas) might be a nice alternative. These should be cut in half (or into thirds, if large) and also added at step 3. You can also use other vegetables of your choice, just remember that firmer vegetables that need more cooking should be added in step 1 and tender vegetables that need only very little cooking should be added at step 3.