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Spice up regular corn with this blackened corn on the cob recipe! They're just as easy to prepare but with much more flavor!
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What makes this dish special
I'm fortunate that in Los Angeles, you can get almost any produce year-round. Granted, it won't be as good during the off-season, but it's still available. Sometimes I can't help but buy corn in October but once summer hits, I'm buying it weekly. The naturally sweet kernels plump with all that juice are just so satisfying to bite into. Today I wanted to dress up my corn on the cob with spices to give it a twist. If you like elote corn, I think you'll like this blackened corn on the cob. Easy to prepare and delicious!
Corn on the cob is fantastic on its own but it also doesn't hurt to dress it up sometimes. Take this blackened corn on the cob for instance. It's just a simple combination of spices and butter but it adds so much flavor. The grated parmesan, chives, and squeeze of lime help elevate it even further. And if you're a fan of corn side dishes, try these Mexican corn fritters!
Ingredients
- Corn on the cob: The star of the dish, we're using corn on the cob; however, you can use corn kernels instead and cook the corn in a pan on the stovetop.
- Butter: Adds richness and depth to the corn's flavor while helping the spices adhere to the corn.
- Blackened seasoning: We're using a combination of paprika, cayenne, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to create the blackened seasoning. This blend adds complexity and heat to the corn while contributing to the blackened appearance of the corn.
- Parmesan: Adds a salty, umami flavor that complements the sweetness of the corn.
- Chives: Offer a mild onion flavor that brightens the overall taste.
Substitutions and variations
- Dairy-free: You can use olive oil instead of butter and nutritional yeast instead of parmesan for a dairy-free version. The flavor will be different but still delicious.
- Frozen corn: You can prepare this dish using shucked frozen corn and cooking it on the stovetop.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Prepare corn
Now, there are many different ways you can cook corn. You can steam it, boil it, bake it, or grill it. Since it's the summer, I decided to grill it.
Even with grilling corn, there is more than one way to approach it. You can grill the corn with the husks on, remove the husks entirely, or even boil them first and then grill them.
I went with the most straightforward and quickest approach, which was to remove the husks. I did pull them back and kept them attached just so I could flip the corn easily, but that's entirely optional.
If you decide to do the same, you should soak the corn for 20 minutes before grilling to prevent the husks from burning. I would also suggest that you tie the husks together with a string to keep them neater.
Step 2: Cook corn
Unfortunately, I don't have an outdoor grill, but a grill plate works just as well. Preheat your grill or grill plate on high heat for about 10 minutes.
Place the corn on the cob on the grill and cook until slightly charred, about 10 minutes. Keep rotating the corn so that all of the sides cook evenly.
Once the corn is cooked, remove it from the grill and brush with the spiced butter evenly. If you're preparing more than 4 corn on the cob, multiply the recipe for the spiced butter as needed.
Sprinkle a good amount of grated parmesan on top and chopped fresh chives. Give the corn a squeeze of fresh lime, and these are ready to be devoured.
Whether you serve this blackened corn on the cob at a barbecue or just a regular weeknight dinner, it'll win you over. The flavors are simple but delicious at the same time. And sometimes, that's just all we want, right?
Make-ahead and storage
- Make-ahead: You can cook the corn ahead of time and keep it warm in the oven at 200 degrees, covered, until ready to serve.
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use a grill pan on high heat on your stovetop. Alternatively, you can broil the corn in your oven, turning occasionally to char all sides.
The recipe has a moderate level of spice due to the cayenne pepper. You can adjust the amount of cayenne to make it more or less spicy to suit your taste.
Absolutely! You can mix the spices with the melted butter ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Just reheat it slightly before using it to ensure it's spreadable.
More corn recipes
Looking for more dishes featuring corn? Try these:
Recipe
Blackened Corn on the Cob
Ingredients
- 4 corn on the cob husks and silk removed
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped chives
- fresh lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat grill to high heat or preheat grill pan to high.
- Make blackened spice butter. Combine melted butter with paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined. Set aside.
- Lay corn on the grill and cook, turning often until charred all over, about 10 minutes. Remove corn from the grill and brush butter evenly on all sides.
- Place corn on serving platter and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons parmesan per corn. Sprinkle chopped chives and serve with lime wedges.
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