PSA: corn season has arrived! It’s time to begin incorporating this versatile vegetable into your summer time weight loss plan. However what’s the easiest way to cook dinner corn, you may ask? Boiled, fast and straightforward? Or does grilled corn take the cake? Corn salsa, maybe? The reply will range, after all, however there are a number of methods to cook dinner and use corn that yield wonderful outcomes. Earlier than we dive in headfirst, let’s take a beat to understand the sunny, golden delight.
Whereas I’m certain you’ve loved a candy, juicy corn on the cob at many a summer time soirée (and discreetly wiggled it out of your tooth after), do you know that corn boasts nutritional benefits alongside being completely delish? Let’s break it down.
- Corn packs loads of key vitamins. Potassium, vitamin A, antioxidants, and extra.
- Aids in stopping and decreasing the danger of sure ailments. Together with corn in your weight loss plan helps wholesome digestion and lowers your threat of coronary heart illness.
- It’s naturally gluten-free! Corn is an entire grain vegetable that gluten-free eaters can get pleasure from, too.
Salsas, salads, enchiladas, cornbreads, and extra are all in our very shiny futures. However first, let’s dive into the easiest way to cook dinner corn.
Suggestions for Cooking Corn
There are some things to think about if you’re cooking corn. Typically, corn cooked in-husk can be extra juicy and candy. If you’re working with charred corn, then again, you’ll get that smoky, grilled style that everybody is aware of and loves. It’s equally as flavorful as in-husk corn, simply differently.
There are additionally many various methods to cook dinner corn based mostly in your preferences and wishes. Typically, corn doesn’t take lengthy to cook dinner, so be sure you maintain a detailed eye on these ears to stop them from turning into powerful, mushy, dry, or flavorless. Whichever technique you select, you may’t go improper! Corn is so versatile in summer cooking and solely takes a couple of minutes to arrange.
How To Cook dinner Corn on the Grill
There are two strategies for grilling corn that yield barely totally different, however equally scrumptious outcomes. For those who’re in search of juicy, candy grilled corn, I like to recommend attempting the in-husk technique. However for a charred, smoky corn stalk, you’ll wish to observe the kernel-to-crate technique. Each yield that candy corn that all of us crave throughout the summer.
In-husk technique
This technique is a bit more hands-on than the charred corn technique, however is the easiest way to protect most moisture in every candy kernel.
- Pull the husks again whereas leaving them connected to the bottom of the stalk. Take away any silk and discard.
- Pull the husks again across the corn and soak the stalk in chilly water for about ten minutes to protect moisture and forestall the husks from burning.
- When you’ve soaked the stalks, pat them dry and place them on the grill.
- Grill the stalks till the corn is tender and the husks are barely charred (about quarter-hour).
- Function-is or use in one of many recipes below! You’ll benefit from the candy, juicy *vegetable* of your labor.
Kernel-to-grate technique
Charring the corn immediately over the grill will go away you with a smoky, slightly-less-juicy cob that’s equally as scrumptious because the in-husk end result (plus, it’s sooner!)
- Pull again or take away the husks totally, take away any silk, and place the stalks immediately on the grates.
- Grill them till they’re tender, steaming scorching, and charred on the skin (about ten minutes).
With this technique particularly, I wish to brush the cooked corn with olive oil, melted butter, or herbed butter to revive a few of that moisture loss. Both manner, you actually can’t go improper with grilled corn on the cob. It simply screams cookout.
How To Cook dinner Corn on the Range
Cooking corn on the range is a simple resolution if you happen to’re quick on time or not within the temper to mild up the grill. Just like the grilling strategies, there are two methods to arrange corn on the range: boiling the stalks and roasting it in a skillet.
Boiled Corn
- Deliver a big pot of water to a boil on the range.
- Salt your water closely. Don’t fear, it doesn’t go away the corn tasting just like the ocean or pull out any moisture. As an alternative, salty water truly enhances the flavour of the corn.
- Whereas your water is coming to a boil, shuck your stalks fully and take away any silk.
- When your water reaches a gradual rolling boil, gently place the stalks into the pot and cook dinner for about 5 minutes. Watch out to not overcook otherwise you’ll be left with powerful kernels! Pull them out when the kernels are plump, shiny yellow, and juicy-looking (once more, about 5 minutes).
- As soon as they’re out of the pot, you’re able to serve or use in a tasty recipe!
Skillet-roasted corn
Just like the boiling technique, this technique is an easy and environment friendly technique to cook dinner corn indoors.
- Warmth a pan over medium-high warmth with just a little oil.
- Since this can be a kernel-only operation, you’ll wish to lower the corn off of the cob. To attenuate the mess, lower the whole stalk in half earlier than shaving off the kernels. This retains these kernels from capturing throughout the kitchen and touchdown everywhere in the flooring.
- Toss kernels into the pan and sauté for about ten minutes, or till they’re browned to your liking.
You’ll get just a little char from this technique and protect loads of the moisture that makes corn so yummy, so it’s just about one of the best of each worlds! Whichever stovetop technique you select, you’ll be left with good, juicy corn.
How To Cook dinner Corn within the Microwave
Cooking corn within the microwave might be the quickest technique to ship juicy cobs. For those who’re cooking greater than about 4 stalks, nonetheless, you’ll most likely wish to select a special technique so the ultimate result’s extra constant. However, for only a few ears of corn, the microwave is a superb choice for fast and straightforward corn cooking.
- Place whole corn stalks within the microwave and cook dinner on excessive for a couple of minutes.
- To retain moisture, microwave the stalks of their husk (if you cook dinner them in-husk, the corn steams in its personal juices and even extracts taste from the husk!).
A great rule of thumb for cooking time is to begin with two minutes and add two extra minutes per ear.
- One ear = two minutes
- Two ears = six minutes
- Three ears = eight minutes
- 4 ears = ten minutes
As soon as your corn is finished cooking, take away it from the microwave and slip the husks off. Take away any silk and lower off the bottom, if desired. Then you definitely’re able to serve! Or, if you happen to’re utilizing your juicy corn in one of many recipes beneath, go away it on standby.
11 Greatest Corn Recipes To Attempt This Week
Seared Chicken Tacos With Street Corn Salsa From The Defined Dish
Why We Love It: These tacos are my official Taco Tuesday go-to. They’re just a little extra hands-on than your lovable sheet-pan fajitas, however are completely price the additional elbow grease. The recipe is made for indoors, however if you happen to’re in an al fresco mood, take your corn and rooster to the grill! Each strategies are equally scrumptious. The tacos function next-level seasoned rooster, creamy avocado and queso fresco, and an unbelievable corn salsa—all wrapped up in a charred corn tortilla.
Hero Ingredient: The corn salsa nearly left me speechless. It’s the right accompaniment to the taco components and is even higher the following day with tortilla chips. As quickly as my roommates and I polished off the unique batch, I got here again to this recipe simply to make simply the corn salsa. You’ve been warned—it’s addicting!
Roasted Corn, Chickpea, and Avocado Salad With Poblano Vinaigrette
Why We Love It: Who doesn’t love chopped salad? It’s such a simple technique to make the most of contemporary produce and offer you one thing just a little extra substantial than your typical greens-based salad. And what’s extra, this salad may simply come out on high for among the finest summer salads. Right here’s why: It celebrates peak summer time produce (corn, tomatoes, contemporary herbs) and jumbles up every kind of nice flavors in a single easy-to-make bowl. Able to seize and go or sit and savor. Personally, I’m a fan of consuming it proper over-the-counter. To every their very own.
Hero Ingredient: Roasted poblanos might sound just a little intimidating, however by no means worry! This recipe takes you step-by-step and leads you into the limitless world of alternative that’s the roasted poblano pepper.
Skillet Cornbread With Chipotle Honey Butter from How Sweet Eats
Why We Love It: One among my favourite summertime suppers is a meal consisting of no matter farmer’s market produce I can discover (cantaloupe, black-eyed peas, cabbage, peaches) with a slice of heat skillet cornbread. And whereas I normally simply whip up the recipe on the again of the cornmeal bundle, I’m stepping it up with this upgraded model.
Hero Ingredient: That chipotle honey butter will maintain within the fridge for as much as every week. Want an attention-grabbing unfold to your dinner rolls? Or a change to your morning toast, maybe? The choices are limitless.
Smoky Sweet Corn Tostadas from Love & Lemons
Why We Love It: For those who’re within the temper to change issues up this week, attempt these corn hummus tostadas. You’ll begin by making a smoky/candy corn hummus with chickpeas, tahini, corn kernels, garlic, lime juice, chipotle paste, and paprika—all of the fundamentals with a couple of welcome twists. It layers all these flavors so properly that you simply’ll wish to eat it with a spoon, however be sure you avoid wasting for the crispy corn tostada shells.
From there, you may high your delicious-enough-to-stand-alone base with no matter greens or herbs you may have available. Grilled corn is a should, although. The recipe additionally requires avocado, scallion, jalapeño slices, and child greens, although I might counsel contemporary tomato, radish, cabbage, and/or slow-cooked chicken if you happen to’re in search of extra protein.
Hero Ingredient: When you’ve got the bandwidth, make further hummus. It’s critically so good and you should use it all through the week on sandwiches, raw veggies, wraps, or salads for a lift of advanced flavors and protein.
Peach Tomato Salad With Sweet Corn and Crispy Quinoa from How Sweet Eats
Why We Love It: This recipe simply screams farmer’s market. Make a journey to at least one nearest you to snag a number of the ripest peaches, tomatoes, and contemporary corn whereas they’re at peak season. This salad does an incredible job of letting all these flavors shine and even makes issues just a little extra substantial with crispy quinoa.
Hero Ingredient: The basil French dressing enhances every little thing completely and gives your produce with a pleasant floral, earthy tone.
Bogotánian Ajiáco
Why We Love It: This recipe involves us from Mariana Velásquez, who shares that this soup is an expression of Bogotánians. Bogotánian Ajiáco is a potato soup with corn, rooster, and capers and was declared cultural patrimony, or “a set of products and values which can be an expression of the individuals,” by the mayor’s workplace in Bogotá about 20 years in the past.
It makes use of three sorts of potatoes, corn, rooster, guasca herbs (which will be discovered on the farmer’s markets, ask for potato weed), cream, avocado, and capers to create one thing completely distinctive and immersive.
Hero Ingredient: For those who haven’t been capable of inform but, I’m a complete sucker for capers. You simply can’t beat that little burst of salty, briny goodness. I digress.
Smoky Grilled Salmon With Avocado Salad from The Modern Proper
Why We Love It: On the lookout for a fast and straightforward weeknight dinner? Or perhaps a dinner to impress guests? The beauty of this recipe is that it’s good for each. It comes collectively in below an hour and yields an entire that’s a lot better than the sum of its elements.
The salmon is seasoned with lime juice and taco seasoning, grilled to perfection, and topped with a corn and avocado salad that’s tasty sufficient to eat by itself. Principally, this can be a dwelling run dinner recipe. And to not point out the well being advantages of salmon. Wholesome fat? Verify. Blood sugar balance? Verify. Clear skin? Verify. The checklist goes on and on, however I gained’t—simply take my phrase for it.
Hero Ingredient: The recipe doesn’t name for it, however I’d suggest throwing that jalapeño on the grill together with your corn earlier than you seed and cube it. A little bit char goes a great distance.
Corn and Avocado Salad
Why We Love It: For those who’re doing any sort of internet hosting this season, this corn salad must be instantly bookmarked and added to your rotation. Largely as a result of it’s the best gathering recipe, but additionally as a result of it’s extremely simple and fully satisfying. Deliver it to your subsequent [insert summer party here] as a result of let me inform you—it’s a complete crowd pleaser. It solely takes about 20 minutes to assemble and acts as the right appetizer for hungry friends, entrée accompaniment, or afternoon snack on a heat day. Cool, candy corn meets crisp bell pepper and creamy avocado? I’ll take two, please.
Hero Ingredient: A handful of dill brings a citrusy observe to the desk that I’m ready to welcome with open arms. And urge for food.
Sheet Pan Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chicken Enchiladas from Half Baked Harvest
Why We Love It: These sheet pan enchiladas are your reply for the dreaded “what’s for dinner?” query. They’re prepared in below an hour and are assured to fulfill any Tex-Mex craving. You’re getting smoky chipotle rooster, charred corn, poblano peppers, candy yellow onion, and cheddar/pepper jack cheese wrapped up in a heat corn tortilla and smothered in salsa verde. And, as if that doesn’t sound wonderful sufficient, you may get pleasure from plenty of edible equipment together with avocado, Greek yogurt or bitter cream, cotija cheese, and plenty of contemporary cilantro. Customise accordingly.
Hero Ingredient: Canned chipotle peppers in adobo are key. They provide the rooster a barely spicy, very smoky taste that simply makes these enchiladas.
Summer Polenta with Sautéed Peas and Corn from With Food and Love
Why We Love It: I do know what you’re considering: Polenta? A summer time meals? On this case, completely. It’s creamy, tacky, garlicky, and each easy and comforting in all one of the best methods. And whereas polenta can usually be seen as a aspect dish, the addition of sautéed snap peas, corn, inexperienced onions, and tomatoes actually crowns this as a stand-alone fundamental. This recipe is ideal for a veggie-rich dinner that may go away you glad with out feeling saturated.
Hero Ingredient: Whereas this mix of veggies is undeniably scrumptious, be happy to include no matter greens you may have available. Zucchini, summer time squash, eggplant, and bell pepper can be nice additions. Empty that vegetable drawer in model.
Avocado Chicken Fajita Cobb from What’s Gaby Cooking
Why We Love It: Loaded salads, meet your new addition. This salad has just a little one thing for everybody and places a twist in your conventional cobb salad. When it’s too scorching to activate the oven this summer time, do that hearty cobb out for dinner—you gained’t remorse it. Can you actually go improper with marinated rooster, sautéed bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, corn, avocado, and feta? I feel not, however you might need to see for your self.
Hero Ingredient: A easy lemon French dressing lets every ingredient shine by way of with out overpowering the flavors of that produce.
What are your favourite methods to make use of corn?
