Stove Top Smoker Smoked Ham And Corn Chowder

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/4-1/2 cup diced bacon
• 5 ears corn (lightly smoked in the husk)
• 2 tablespoons mesquite wood chips, divided
• 1 1/2 cups smoked ham (diced after smoking)
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced carrot
• 1 cup diced green and red bell pepper
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced small
• 1 cup chicken stock
• salt & pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• cayenne pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)

Recipe

• 1 render the fat from the bacon over low heat in a saucepan.
• 2 place the corn, still in the husk, in the smoker on medium heat, using 1 tablespoon of the mesquite wood chips, for 10 minutes. remove corn, clean and cut kernals off of the cob. set aside.
• 3 add the remaining tablespoon of mesquite wood chips and smoke the ham for 15 minutes over medium heat. dice the ham and set aside.
• 4 when the fat is rendered and the bacon is cooked, remove and reserve.
• 5 add butter to pan if more fat is needed. saute the onion, celery, carrots, and peppers until golden. add the corn and potatoes. saute 2 more minutes. add the ham and chicken stock. season to taste. bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are done, about 20 minutes.
• 6 meanwhile, prepare the sauce. melt butter over medium heat, stir in flour, and cook about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. whisk in the milk and cook until smooth. lower heat and cook about 10 minutes. add to corn mixture for final 5 minutes. season to taste. add cream, if desired.