Sweet Corn Soup (Instant Pot & Stovetop)

Easy & comforting Sweet Corn Soup made in the Instant Pot. This lightly spiced Indo-Chinese soup is perfect for the cold weather. This is a vegan & gluten-free soup!

This is one soup that takes me back to the delicious street food of Mumbai. We used to have Sweet Corn Soup every time we visited our favorite Chinese (rather Indo-Chinese) joint, Uncle’s Kitchen.

We would always start with sweet corn soup, chicken lollipops (similar to wings), crispy chicken, and spring rolls. So this soup is very similar to the restaurant-style sweet corn soup we enjoyed, and I hope you enjoy it too!

I love making soups in the Instant Pot. You might have guessed that by the number of instant pot soups I have shared. You can also make this sweet corn soup on the stovetop, and it takes about the same time, just a little extra monitoring.

This Sweet Corn Soup should be on the must-try list if you want a vegetarian soup recipe. 

What is Sweet Corn Soup?

Sweet Corn Soup is made in many regions of the world in many different ways.  Corn is the main ingredient that gives the soup a slightly sweet taste.  Usually, a lightly spiced soup made with sweet corn and veggies like carrots, green peas, cabbage & spring onions. You can also find the chicken sweet corn soup variation. I will share the Indo-Chinese version of vegetarian sweet corn soup in this recipe.  It is vegan & gluten-free.

You might ask, what is Indo-Chinese cuisine?  I am picking this from Wikipedia – The adaptation of Chinese seasoning and cooking techniques to Indian tastes through a larger offering to include vegetarian dishes.

Check out `10+ Best Indian Soup Recipes.

You will love this Chinese Sweet Corn Soup

• Easy to make & so satisfying
• You can add lots of veggies
• Easy to adjust to your spice level and change up the veggies you add
• Vegan and gluten-free
• Perfect for cold days

Sweet Corn Soup Ingredients

Let’s start with gathering the ingredients for sweet corn soup.

Sweet Corn: I used frozen corn for this soup. You can use fresh or canned too. I blended 3/4 cup of the corn with some water to make creamed corn which we will add to this soup.

You can use canned creamed corn too. However, I find it easy to blend corn at home.

Veggies: I just used carrots and spring onions (scallions) while making this soup, as that is what I had on hand. Other veggies you can add are – green peas, green beans, mushrooms, and cabbage (add at the end after pressure cooking).

Separate the white and green portions of the spring onions while chopping, as we will add them at different times.

Ginger & Garlic: These aromatics elevate the flavor of this soup. Mince the garlic and ginger.

Vegetable Broth: I use vegetable broth for this soup. But feel free to use what you have on hand. You can also use Better than Bouillon to make broth.

Salt, Pepper & Sugar: Season with salt and pepper. Add a little sugar to balance the flavors of the soup.

Vinegar: Adds tanginess to the soup. I used rice vinegar.

Cornstarch: Make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the soup. You can also use arrowroot powder or potato starch as a replacement.

Red chili paste: Add red chili paste to taste to increase the heat in this soup.

How to make Sweet Corn Soup in Instant Pot?

There are three easy steps to make this soup!

Saute the ingredients

1 – Heat the instant pot in sauté mode. Add oil, ginger, and garlic and sauté them until fragrant and slightly golden.

2 – Add the carrots, the white portion of the spring onions, corn kernels, and the creamed corn.

3- Add the broth, black pepper, salt, sugar, and vinegar and stir well.

Pressure Cook the soup

4 – We pressure cook for just 2 minutes and then let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.

Simmer & Garnish

5 – Next step is to make the soup thicker by adding cornstarch. Dissolve the corn starch in 1/4 cup water with no lumps. Start the instant pot in sauté mode and add the corn starch to the soup while stirring continuously. Bring to a quick boil.

6 – The soup is ready. Garnish with the green part of spring onions and add red chili sauce to taste. Serve hot!

Stovetop Method

1 – Heat oil in a large pot on medium-high heat. Add ginger and garlic. Saute them until they are fragrant.

2 – Add the carrots, the white portion of the spring onions, corn kernels, and the creamed corn. Add the broth, black pepper, salt, sugar, and vinegar and stir well.

3 – Bring to a boil, and simmer on low flame for about 15 minutes until the veggies are cooked. Stir at regular intervals.

4 – Mix the cornstarch slurry in 1/4 cup water with no lumps. Then add it to the soup. Stir it and let it cook until the soup thickens.

5 – Garnish with the green part of spring onions and serve!

How to Serve?

I like to add lots of sauces before enjoying this soup. Soy sauce, some chili sauce, or schezwan sauce are all great additions. I use Sambal Oelek Chili paste if you want a new one to try. Or the Indo-Chinese Ching’s Secret Schezwan Chutney is so good!

Pair this soup with Chili Garlic Potatoes, and Garlic Noodles or Vegetable Lo Mein for a wonderful meal!

How to Store?

Any leftovers can be cooled to room temperature and stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to 4 days.

You can also store it in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then reheat in the microwave or a pot on the stovetop.

I hope you enjoy this easy Sweet Corn Soup!

More Amazing Soup Recipes:

• Creamy Tomato Soup
• Cream of Broccoli Soup
• Roasted Red Pepper & Carrot Soup
• Sweet Potato Soup
• Minestrone Soup

Check out this 20+ Instant Pot Vegetarian Soup Recipes collection for more delicious soups!