The Magical Ingredients for a Wholesome Life From the Heart of my Home: Four Ways To Use Leftover Chipotle Corn Chowder

How to use left over soups? Well, this post is here to help with perfect ideas. I have shared a recipe for Instant Pot Slow Cooked Chipotle Corn Chowder. Chipotle corn chowder is one of our favorite soups whether slow-cooked or on stove-top. When made quite often, many times, there would be leftovers and sometimes, I would love to make a little extra as the leftover soup comes in handy for the next meal as such, or which helps in quick fixing a delicious meal. This post shows four ways to use it, though it can be used in many other ways.

I have shared the recipe for Chipotle Mac and Cheese, Chipotle Paneer Curry, Chipotle Pulao, and Chipotle Black Bean and Noodle Soup. These are some of the delicious options which converts the leftover soup to another meal.

Most of us would be repurposing and I always remember our childhood days how mom used leftovers and made yummy meal. One of her repurposing is reducing any type of leftover curries and gravies into a thick sauce and our entire family loves that. We would always ask for that than the fresh ones. Even today, whenever I visit her, that sauce would be on my list which I enjoy with rice, or dosa, or chapathi. Growing up with many ideas from mom, aunts, and grandmas, I can consider myself quite handy in using leftovers. I have shared how I used leftover khichdi to bake a comfort meal - Veggie and Cheese Khichdi Bake. Many times I feel relief when I think "oh ok, there is some leftover which I could use".

Sue of Palatable Pastime is hosting this month's event in our #SoupSaturdaySwappers. This month's theme is "Repurposing Frozen or Leftover Soups". What a perfect idea! Many times there will be leftovers and they could be repurposed into other foods. Reducing them to a sauce is another great idea too. I am sharing this post for the same with a few of my ideas.

Chipotle Mac and cheese

Who doesn't love mac and cheese. Creamy and cheesy comfort! Use any kind of leftover soup and that makes yummy versions of mac and cheese. This is made using Chipotle corn chowder and this mac and cheese is delicious with the aroma and taste of chipotle peppers. Add cheese as you wish for more comfort. The chowder is the creamy sauce for the mac and cheese.

Chipotle rice / Chipotle Pulao

This is a simple pulao with rich flavors. The chipotle corn chowder has cream in it and that will lend extra flavor to the pulao. We often make pulao or biriyani with coconut milk, sometimes with a little milk added. But when you add cream it enhances the flavor to a great extent and with the punch of chipotle pepper, this is a satisfying meal.

Chipotle Paneer Curry

This is a delicious and creamy curry with chipotle peppers. The flavor will be very similar to Paneer butter masala but with smoked flavor coming from chipotle flavors. This new flavor enhancement makes adds a new dimension to the traditional curry. Usual paneer curry has lots of cream and cashew paste. The addition of the chipotle corn chowder compensates that and gives a boost to the curry. If you run out of cream and you have a leftover creamy soup like chipotle corn chowder, then you could make yummy paneer curry versions. Both kids as well as adults would love this version. This goes well with parathas, chapathi, roti, or naan.

Chipotle Black Bean and Noodle Soup

This is a soup created using another soup. The chipotle corn chowder gives a creamy finish to this soup. With added noodles and black beans it is more yummy. Black beans also provide good proteins. Topped with crushed tortilla chips or dunked tortilla chips, this soup is heavenly comfort in a bowl. Simple flavors make a lot of difference in the meal and may be no one would think this is made out of leftovers.

I also linking this to Full Plate Thursday and Souper Sundays. Deb of Kahakai Kitchen hosts Souper Sundays and check her page if you would like to participate in Souper Sundays.

The detailed recipe follows.

Chipotle Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

Serves 4

Chipotle corn chowder - 2 cups

Shredded cheese - 1-2 cups

Pasta - 2 cups

Salt

Water to cook pasta

Method

Cook the pasta according to package directions and set aside. Elbow pasta takes about 7 minutes to cook.

In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, bring the chipotle corn chowder to a simmer.

Add the cooked pasta, followed by cheese.

Mix thoroughly. Garnish with cilantro.

Serve as such or with a side of garlic toast.

Chipotle Paneer curry

Ingredients

Paneer - 3 cups

3 tbsp oil

Grind together:

Onions - 1.5 cup chopped

Ginger-1 in

Garlic- 4-5

Chipotle pepper s- 2 to 2.5 tsp

Cumin - 1/2 tsp

To cook

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Cumin - 1 tsp

Chipotle corn chowder - 1 cup

Method

Grind together the ingredients under grinding to a smooth paste and set aside.

Heat oil in a pan and pan fry the paneer cubes till light golden color and put in 1 cup water. Set aside.

Add 2 more tablespoons oil to pan. Fry cumin for a minute and add the ground onion-chipotle puree. Cook the puree till oil separates out. Add salt, turmeric and mix thoroughly. This process may take about 6-8 minutes. Add paneer along with water. Simmer for 2 minutes