Recipe Ingredients:
6 ears sweet summer corn, kernels removed and placed in bowl, and cobs retained
1 tbsp trans-fat free light spread (e.g., Smart Balance)
1 tbsp flour
1 cup nonfat milk
3/4 lb extra lean ham, fully cooked, chopped into bite-sized pieces (optional)
1/4 cup onions, finely diced
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp sage
2 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped finely
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
6 cups baby spinach
3/4 cup fresh cucumber, sliced
3 tbsp light ranch dressing
Preparation:
Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a medium saucepan. Cut three corn cobs in half and place each in boiling water. Boil cobs for approximately 15 minutes. Remove cobs, straining out any cob residue if necessary, leaving corn broth.
While cobs are boiling, melt spread in a small saucepan on medium-low heat. Add flour, and whisk with spread to create a roux. Add milk, whisking constantly until thoroughly mixed. Increase heat to medium-high, or until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and add to corn broth.
Bring corn and milk mixture to a simmer, and add ham, corn kernels, and onions. Add cumin, sage, thyme, and pepper, stirring until completely mixed. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until corn reaches desired consistency, stirring every few minutes.
Arrange 2 cups of spinach in each of three bowls. Top each with ¼ cup sliced cucumber and toss with 1 tbsp ranch dressing.
Ladle three equal portions of soup into large bowls and serve with salad on side.