VELVET CORN SOUP

Print Recipe
Course Soup

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large fresh ears of corn shucked, or substitute an 8¾ -oz. can of creamed corn
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 3 cups chicken stock fresh or canned
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold chicken stock fresh or canned, orcold water
  • 1/8- inch-thick slice cooked Smithfield ham finely chopped (about ¼ cup)

Instructions
 

  • Prepare ahead:
  • With a cleaver or sharp knife, slice the kernels of fresh corn from their cobs intoa bowl, making sure not to cut too deeply into the cob or to lose any of the milky cornjuices.
  • In a small bowl, beat the egg whites with a fork until frothy. then beat in the 2tablespoons of milk.
  • Have the corn, egg white mixture, chicken stock, salt, cornstarch mixture andchopped ham within easy reach.
  • To cook:
  • In a 2-quart saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Add the cornand salt and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil again. Give the cornstarch mixture aquick stir to recombine it and pour it into the soup. Cook, stirring constantly, until thesoup has thickened and become clear. Then turn off the heat and immediately pour in theegg white mixture, stirring only once. Quickly pour the hot soup into a tureen orindividual bowls and sprinkle with the chopped ham.

Notes

(adapted from Time-Life Foods of the World, Cookingof China)
To serve 4.
Variation:
Velvet corn soup may be made with crabmeat. Increase the stock to 1 quart and add
½ pound of fresh crabmeat or a 7 ½ -ounce can of crabmeat,carefully picked over, with the corn. Omit the ham.
This recipe has been kitchen tested.
Keyword Soups