1lblarge or jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined, shells reserved
4strips Bacon, chopped fine
3cupsfrozen sweet corn (2 processed 1 not)*
1small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2medium russet potatoes, peeled and finely chopped
2tablespoonall-purpose flour
32ozchicken stock
1 cupheavy cream
2cupshalf and half
2teaspoonOld Bay (1 teaspoon reserved until end of cooking)
2bay leaves
¼teaspoondried thyme
1teaspoononion powder
1teaspoongarlic powder
¼teaspooncayenne pepper
⅓cupwhite wine*
1teaspoon
Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
1teaspoonsugar
Instructions
Add 2 cups of thawed corn to a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped/paste-like. Set aside for later. 2. Peel and devein shrimp. Reserve shells for stock, and place peeled shrimp in the refrigerator for later. 3. In a large stock pot, cook bacon over low heat - stirring occasionally until crisp, about 12-14 minutes. 4. Once crisp, remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towel lined plate and reserve for serving. 5. Add onion, garlic, potatoes, salt and pepper to the pot with the reserved bacon fat, and stir to combine. Continue cooking over low heat until the onions are translucent and potatoes are slightly softened, about 10 minutes. 6. While the onions, garlic and potatoes cook- heat the chicken stock and shrimp shells in a separate saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until shells are pink, about 3 minutes. Remove and discard shells. 7. After veggies have cooked 10 minutes, add 2 tablespoon flour to the pot with them and stir or whisk well to combine. Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, then slowly stir in shrimp-infused chicken broth, processed and whole corn kernels, half and half, heavy cream, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon old bay, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, white wine, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper (to taste). 8. Cover, turn heat to medium-low, and continue to cook, stirring frequently (to ensure cream doesn’t break) for 30 minutes. 9. After 30 minutes, add the shrimp, reserved teaspoon Old Bay and 1 teaspoon sugar and cook, stirring occasionally- for 10 minutes. 10. Turn off heat, discard bay leaves, and serve soup hot with bacon and sliced scallion (and some crusty bread!).