It’s the essence of summer: This is a silky and smooth Cold Corn Soup that’s creamy, sweet and utterly refreshing. It’s a soup intended to be served chilled or at room temperature, but it’s just as sensational served warm.
For the best results, use fresh corn ears when they’re at their prime (and cheapest!) But if frozen corn is all you’ve got, you can use that instead!
Cold Corn Soup – refreshing summer soup!
The concept of a cold soup might sound unusual if you’ve never tried one before. However chilled soups feature in a surprising number of cultures around the world! The best known might be gazpacho, the Spanish cold soup of pureed tomatoes and raw vegetables. But the Koreans have naengmyeon, a cold beef broth and noodle soup, while even the French sometimes serve vichyssoise (leek and potato soup) cold rather than hot.
Cold soups provide a light and refreshing escape from sweltering, muggy weather in a meal. If you’re sweating through summer right now, that sounds pretty good, right??
If, on the other hand, you’re shivering through a brisk winter (hello Australia), the good news is that this soup is just as delicious served warm. It’s a soup for all seasons!!
What goes in Cold Corn Soup
1. Fresh corn ears
A corn-centric dish is always going to taste better made from fresh corn! The other reason is we can pull maximum flavour from whole corn ears, because after cutting the kernels off the cobs are used to make a simple homemade corn stock. No store-bought stock can rival that!
Frozen corn alternative: Use 10 cups of frozen corn and store-bought chicken stock instead of homemade corn stock.
2. Other ingredients in Cold Corn Soup
In addition to (lots!) of corn kernels, here are the other ingredients that go into this corn soup:
Garlic and onion – Standard aromatic flavour base that appears in most savoury dishes on this site!;
Leek – Adds a slightly sweeter, more delicate onion flavour to the soup instead of just using onion. Substitute with more onion;
Butter – For sautéing. You could use olive oil if you prefer, but the buttery flavour is better!
Cream – Adds a lovely rich mouthfeel to the soup; and
Herb and spice sachet (see below) – Whole spices and herbs wrapped up in a cheesecloth. This is used to infuse flavour into the soup without ending up with little bits of spices in the soup that could otherwise mar the soup’s clean look.
Don’t have cheesecloth? It’s not the end of the world! Use ground coriander instead of whole seeds, ground white pepper instead of black peppercorns (so you don’t end up with black bits in the soup). Add the thyme and bay leaves into the soup, and remove before blitzing. The soup is strained at the end so it will catch any little bits.
How to make Cold Corn Soup
Here’s a rundown of how to make Cold Corn Soup:
Cut kernels off corn cobs;
Simmer corn cobs in water to make corn stock;
Sauté garlic, onion and corn, and simmer with the corn stock; then
Blitz, strain, chill … and slurp!
Part 1 – Corn stock and soup
Cut kernels off corn – I find the easiest way to do this without the kernels flying everywhere is to prop the corn upright on an inverted ramekin or wide mug sitting inside a large bowl. Then cut the kernels off in a downward motion with a small knife. The ramekin ensures you can cut all the way to the bottom and the bowl will catch the kernels as they fall off. ;
Corn stock – Cut the leftover cobs in half. Place in a large pot with the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes with the lid off;
Measure stock – Strain corn stock, then measure the liquid. It should be around 2 litres / 2 quarts. If it’s much more, simmer to reduce (otherwise the flavour is too diluted). If less, top up with water;
Sauté aromatics – Use a large pot, as this makes around 3 litres / 3 quarts of soup! Cook onion, celery, leek and garlic on a medium-low heat for 4 – 5 minutes until soft and sweet. Don’t let them turn golden brown otherwise it will affect the colour of the soup;
Cook corn – Add corn kernels then cook for 6 to 7 minutes. The corn basically “steam cooks” due to the moisture as opposed to sautéing, which is what we want. As above with the onion etc, we don’t want to make the corn golden (like I insist on for things like Mexican Corn Salad!) because it will make the soup brown rather than a lovely pastel yellow and will lose its freshness;
Add corn stock – Add the corn stock and the herb/spice sachet;
Simmer – Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Finally, add the cream and simmer for 3 minutes. Don’t let it boil as it might split the cream;
Ready to blend! It will smell lovely at this stage, but now we’re going to blend it to really release all the sweet flavour locked up in the corn kernels!
Part 2: Blend, strain and chill
Blend until smooth – Blend right in the pot using a stick blender, or in batches in a blender on high speed until smooth.
CAUTION! Hot liquid + tightly sealed blender lid = soup explosion! To avoid this, cool before blending OR remove the lid of the feeding tube in the blender lid. Cover the exposed hole with a folded tea towel as you blend hot liquid. You will see me do this in the recipe video.
Strain – With a fine mesh strainer set over a large bowl or pot, strain the soup;
Press out liquid – Use a rubber spatula to press out as much liquid as you can;
Chill then serve – Cool the soup on the counter (never put a big bowl of steaming hot soup straight in the fridge, it will heat up your fridge and melt foods around it!). Then transfer it into the fridge to chill. See next section for how to serve this soup.
How to serve Cold Corn Soup
This is a rare soup that is intended specifically to be served cold. Serve it fully chilled straight from the fridge, just moderately cool or at room temperature.
Having said that, it’s also terrific warm as well. Warming the soup up brings the flavour of the corn out even more!
Serving vessels: Shot glasses or bowls!
Serving this soup in shot glasses makes a fun canapé to pass around. Try serving in tea cups if making a small starter, or in bowls as a first course.
Garnish
To pretty it up, sprinkle on a garnish of reserved corn kernels sautéed in a little butter until golden, and a spray of green onion slices for colour. I also added a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Basil oil would have been even more amazing – imagine the splash of colour and hint of fresh basil flavour!
So, if you’re a first timer to cold soups, what do you think?? Will you give this a go? – Nagi x
PS. The correct answer to leave below is YES!! 😂
Watch how to make it
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Cold Corn Soup for Summer
Ingredients
Corn stock:
- 8 ears yellow corn (Note 1 for frozen corn)
- 3 litres / 3 quarts water
Corn soup:
- 100g/ 7 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves , chopped
- 1/2 onion , finely sliced
- 1 celery stalk , sliced
- 1/2 leek , white part only, finely sliced (sub 1/2 onion)
- 1 tsp salt , cooking/kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1 cup cream , full fat
Herb Spice Sachet (Note 2):
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- 1 bay leaf , preferably fresh otherwise dried
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
Optional Garnish:
- Extra corn kernels , sautéed in butter until golden with a pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup green onion , finely sliced
Instructions
- Cut off kernels: Cut the corn kernels off the cobs and transfer to a bowl.
- Corn stock: Cut the cobs in half. Place in a large pot with the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain – it should be 2 litres. If it's much more , simmer to reduce. If less, top up with water.
- Sachet: Bundle the bay leaf, thyme, black peppercorns and coriander seeds loosely in a small piece of cheesecloth to create a sachet. Tie with cooking twine to secure.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt butter in a pot over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, leek and garlic. Cook for 4 – 5 minutes until soft.
- Cook corn: Add corn kernels then cook for 6 to 7 minutes.
- Simmer: Add the corn stock and the sachet. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Cream: Add the cream and cook for 3 minutes.
- Blend and sieve: Remove the Sachet. Blend in batches in a blender on high speed until smooth. CAUTION! Hot liquid + tightly sealed blender lid = soup explosion! To avoid this, either cool before blending. OR remove the lid of the feeding tube in the blender lid. Cover the exposed hole with a folded tea towel as you blend hot liquid. You will see me do this in the recipe video.
- Strain: Pass through a fine sieve.
- Adjust salt: Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Chill and serve: Cool, then transfer to the fridge to chill completely. Intended to be served chilled or cool, but also great at room temperture or warm!
- How to serve: In shot glasses as a canape, tea cups as a small starter, or bowls as a meal with hunks of crusty bread. Garnish with kernels sauteed in butter with green onion slices and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (basil oil would be even more incredible!).
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More amazing vegetable soups
Life of Dozer
Photo from the Golden Retriever Boarder from the weekend while I was in Tasmania. This is how he’s been starting every morning! Enjoying the sunrise, Dozer??
Honestly I was dubious about this recipe but my 3 year old requested corn soup in the middle of summer lol so I gave it a try. All I can say is WOW!!! Soo tasty I still can’t believe it, I also can’t get over how much my meat loving husband raved about it. Never doubt Nagi!
Thanks Nagi – I was googling a smooth cold soup that used my sweet corn in the fridge. It’s a 35’ Hobart day and I’m recovering from tooth surgery so couldn’t risk corn husk bits in the soup. Little did I realise I would create such a legendary soup! Definitely worthy of being served as an amuse bouche, but I drank a mug of it because I can’t use a soup spoon. Yummo! We loved it.
I did use my chicken broth to cook the corn cobs so I added extra flavour and protein.
I have made this soup–it’s delicious!
At this time in the summer, the only fresh corn available to me is the yellow and white “peaches and cream” variety. It’s a delicious sweet corn that makes a lovely chilled soup, but the colour is very pale. I am thinking of adding turmeric to the soup to enhance the colour. How much turmeric would you recommend, and when would you add it?
Corn soup doesn’t really scream exciting to me, but this taste of this is just mind-blowing!
Have just made it this morning for a cold dinner, with it being a solid 35 degrees in the shade I didn’t feel like sweating while eating dinner.
I will definitely be making this again! The corn stock just hits next level!
Heaven on earth! The best cold soup for summer. Thank you for this wonderful recipe
Looks AMAZING, but I was wondering if I could use something else rather than butter, perhaps olive oil or coconut oil??? Thanks!!!
I haven’t tried those Samantha. Butter adds a good bit of flavour here so let me know how it goes if you try it with oil. N x
This has been one of my favorite things to make this summer. I drizzle chili oil on top (heat oil, pour hot oil over red pepper flakes, strain) and top with cilantro!
this looks good, but I was wondering if it would turn out ok without blending/straining it? I would just cook it as described and refrigerate it without blending. Do you think this would work? It’s corn season here in Michigan so I’d love to try it
I discovered your blog three years ago, and you’ve since become my favorite food blogger❤️ This cold corn soup is delicious! Refreshing, creamy, so flavorful, and unexpected. It was a big hit as the starter of a summer bbq dinner. Many thanks from NYC!
LOVE this soup,, made almost exactly as written (no leeks, used scallions and spring onions instead) but beware it does take more than an hour total, even for an experienced cook in a well equipped kitchen. The end result reminds me of a very old recipe for “Velvet Corn Soup” from a vintage chinese cook book! Very yummy and elegant, a great use of “summer” corn here in NA. Thanks, Nagi! And golden dog Wally sends a shout out to Dozer🐾💕!
Husband had a tooth out yesterday. Advice was no hot or cold liquids for a day or two. This soup appeared on my fb this morning.
Made in a soupmaker. Used tinned corn and a stock cube. Absolutely delicious. Thank you for posting.
Oh that’s awesome, I’m so glad you loved it – I hope he recovers quickly!! N x
My Lord!! This is next level! I am ecstatic at how incredibly delicious this is. I made it exactly as you wrote it, corn stock and all. It was time consuming but seriously so worth it! I used basil oil and that just took it over the top! I can’t wait to show off with this at my dinner party. It will make a ton which is great because I can’t stop sampling it! Thank you for this recipe!!
Woah what a compliment, thanks so much Nancy!! N x
That is indeed what I mean, and I’m so embarrassed that I missed that in the directions… I thought I had read them carefully. Thanks, everyone, for the answers.
No problems at all Carol!!! N x
Could this be made when corn is at its peak and frozen, to be enjoyed later (hot or cold) ?
There is something special about food, made with in-season produce, that you pull out of the freezer in the dead of winter. It makes a Canadian winter almost bearable! LOL
Yes 100% Donna!! N x
This was soooo delicious and a perfect way to highlight sweet summer corn! I wanted to drink it straight from the pot! I am really curious about that Korean cold beef broth soup though!!!:)
I have been searching high and low at corn chowder or some type of corn soup vegetarian I want hot but this is a great start I can’t wait to try this thank you put me on your list
I hope you try it and love it Christine – keep me updated on what you think! N x
Is it summer???? Girl you slippin. Bring back the old stuff my love.
Ps we need some white choc desserts up in here.
Still love you, hope tas is good xx
For people on the other side of the pond – yes it’s summer! 😉 N x
Looks so good. Another one to add to my recipe tin. Perfect timing for our freaky hot summer here in Vancouver.
The meal you prepared in Tazzie looked so beautiful chef Nagi.
You are so hardworking and so talented!!
Im sure Dozer would not complain if you guys moved down there🐾😊
I hope you love it Lesley!! N x
Even the phrase “Corn Soup is one of those rare soups best served cold.” makes me quiver. Blech. But, in the spirit of “Nagi said” (eat your anchovies), we’ll give this a go in July, when the first of the season’s corn appears at the farmers’ market. Yay Tazzie!
You can have it warm too Christopher! Try it both ways and let me know what you prefer!! N x
OMG what a glorious reunion that will be with you and Dozer. The lunch at the end of the trip was inspired, lucky fellow foodies!