Meatless Monday: Creamy Corn and Vegetable Soup

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Related To:

Creamy corn vegetable soup

creamy-corn-vegetable-soup-recipe,CREAMY_CORN_VEGETABLE_SOUP_H_.jpg

Frame 14,CREAMY_CORN_VEGETABLE_SOUP_H_.jpg

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Armendariz, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Meatless Monday is a global movement, a way of life. It’s not a campaign to turn everyone in the world vegetarian or vegan; in fact, many involved are meat-lovers. Eating less meat has been proven to reduce the risk of disease, curb obesity and has important environmental impacts, too. Will you join us in giving up meat, just for one day a week?

It’s prime time to be eating corn right now. It's crunchy, sweet and affordable -- and I can’t get enough. Of course it’s great grilled straight off the cob, but it’s also really lovely in a creamy vegetable soup.

Don’t dismiss the thought of soup until fall. Loaded with zucchini, bell pepper, corn and fresh basil, this soup gets you all of the bright and fresh flavors of summer. Set the table outside and serve with crusty bread and a simple side salad for a relaxing and healthy August dinner.

4 cups fresh corn kernels or 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen, thawed
2 cups nonfat milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
1 medium zucchini, (about 1/2 pound) diced

2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (use vegetable broth to make it truly Meatless)

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
3/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into ribbons

Put 2 cups of the corn and the milk into a blender or food processor, until smooth. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and zucchini and cook, stirring until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups of corn and the broth and bring to a boil. Add the pureed corn and tomatoes and cook until warmed through, but not boiling. Add the salt and season with pepper. Serve garnished with the basil ribbons.

More Meatless Corn Dinner Ideas:

Next Up

Stay Cool with 6 Summery Spins on Comfort Food

Summer versions of hearty winter comfort food recipes like meatloaf, loaded baked potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs and more.

Favorite Fair Foods

Craving your favorite fair food but not a ferris wheel in sight? With these recipes, you can recreate fair food flavor at home.

Meatless Monday: Rustic Fall Vegetable Soup

When it comes to homemade vs store-bought, homemade is always better. The questions is if it’s worth the time and effort. When it comes to soup, the answer is yes.

Meatless Monday: Veggie Burgers

A round-up of our best veggie burger recipes for Meatless Monday and Labor Day.

Meatless Monday: Grilled Vegetables

Grill up a bunch of vegetables tonight and eat like a king for the rest of the week; use the veggies to make pasta dishes, omelets, burritos, sandwiches and pizza.

Meatless Monday: Veggie Garbage Bread

Garbage bread is way less trashy than the name implies -- fill store-bought pizza dough with cheese and your favorite veggies.

Meatless Monday: Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash soup is a restaurant menu favorite this time of year, but it's super easy to make at home.

On TV

So Much Pretty Food Here