Grilled Corn

Want to try something new in this quarantine? Try grilling corn on a cob for a healthy and tasty snack. Grilled corn is one of the best snacks for family gatherings as well as something to eat between the meals. Corn is delicious and has plenty of health benefits so you can have a guilt free gorging session.

It was first cultivated in parts of Mexico and Central America about 10,000 years ago. Maize, as it is popularly known as in many countries, is present in our lives in subtle ways. From eating popcorn while binge watching a show on Netflix to eating it as pizza toppings, corn is also known as comfort food. In India, corn or bhutta is a very popular eating item in the monsoons.

There are numerous health benefits of eating corn. It is a very good change to involve in your diet especially a vegetarian one. It helps in gaining weight, has Vitamin B12, folic acid and iron in huge number which prevents the onset of anaemia. It also has Vitamin C and can be taken as salads, dips and even cornbread. The kernels of corn hold most of the minerals and nutrients including selenium which is not easy to find.

It lowers cholesterol absorption and regulates insulin. A study found that it even helps in preventing fatal diseases like cancer. It soothes constipation with its high fiber quality and has vitamins essential for pregnant women. There are many cosmetic benefits of eating corn. It keeps the skin healthy and adds a flow to it.

Let us focus on something crispy, fun and more of a party food: How to Cook Corn on A Grill.

Cooking Corn on Cob

Grilled Corn

Cooking corn on the cob looks easy but isn’t that simple. It takes finesse and patience to cook corn on the grill. Before we dive straight into the steps, let’s take a break and keep some tips in mind.

Choosing the correct corn is very essential to cook it on the cob. The perfect corn is the freshest because it has the tightest and the juiciest corns. Choose the corn with bright green husk wrapped snugly around the corn. It is the most ideal corn type but if you can’t find the freshest corn, you can use the next best possible option. If you don’t have fresh corn available you can soak it for a few minutes before grilling it.

You may have heard about removing the husk from the corn. I strongly suggest to not do that. The husk protects the corn from getting burnt and adds a smoky flavor.

How to Grill Corn on Cob?

Grilled Corn

Now let’s see how to grill corn on the cob.

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4 people

Ingredients: Corn (4 ears with husk), butter, lime, chilli.

Method:

  1. Prepare your grill. Heat it on 290°C for about a minute. To check if the grill is sufficiently hot, place your hand about one inch above the grill. You will feel the heat from the grill on your hand.
  2. Place the corn with husks on the heated grill. Cover the grill. Turn the corn occasionally to keep it from burning on one side. Keep doing this for 15 to 20 minutes till the husk is charred and blackened. If you want charred marks on the corn for aesthetic reasons, you can peel of the outer layer of the husk. Be careful, do not peel of the entire husk as it protects the corn from burning and drying out.
  3. Now is the time to peel off all the silk and husk from the corn. After taking the corn off the grill, let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool off. If need be, you can use a damp towel to protect your hands from the rough edges of the husk.
  4. After peeling off the husk, your corn is almost ready. Garnish the corn with a little chilli, lime and salt to taste. Serve it hot.

How to Boil Corn on Cob

Grilled Corn

Many people are a little hesitant when it comes to grilling. Following recipe is an alternate recipe to grilling. It is How to Boil Corn on Cob.

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4 people

Ingredients: Corn (4 ears), butter, salt

Method:

  1. Peel off the husk and silk on the corn and place them in a pot filled with water.
  2. Boil the corn on the cob for about 5 to 7 minutes. To aid in the boiling pressure, cover the kid of the pot. Now this part is very important. You don’t want to overcook the corn because it becomes mushy. To know when is the right time, look for subtle changes. The corn kernels will look a mor intense yellow after they are boiled. They will be plumper and tender. To test, you can pick one kernel of corn with the top of a sharp knife. Another misconception about boiling corn is if you add salt it makes the process faster. That is absolutely false. True salt helps with osmosis but with corn it reacts and makes the kernels tight and with no juice.
  3. After the corn is boiled, remove them from the pot and let them sit for 5 minutes to cool down.
  4. Rub butter on the surface generously. Sprinkle some salt to taste and serve hot corn boiled on cob.

Tips for Better Grilling of Corn

Grilled Corn

Pro tip: If you want to sweeten the corn, you can add some sugar to the boiling water.

Above mentioned recipes are both simple to make and tasty (not to mention healthy) to eat. You can modify these recipes and make corn salads adding chopped and diced vegetables too. Confuses what to do with left-over boiled corn? Add some chopped onion, cucumber and coriander. Sprinkle some cumin powder, salt to taste and chilli powder. Todd the salad and keep it in the refrigerator to chill. Serve fresh during dinner.

Furthermore, you can also use left-over boiled or grilled corn as stuffing for dosas and paranthas.

So, whenever there’s a family gathering or a house party, you know what to make: easy-peasy corn recipes!

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