Grilled corn on the cob with cheese is a more Italian-style take on other versions of this perfect summer side dish. Fresh corn, meet blazing fire. And then cheese.
Adapted from Steven Raichlen | How to Grill Vegetables | Workman Publishing, 2021
When I was growing up, grilled corn was not on my radar. It wasn’t until I started researching The Barbecue! Bible that I encountered charcoal-grilled corn basted with chandon beni butter (flavored with a cilantro-like herb called culentro) in Trinidad; corn grilled with coconut milk and fish sauce in Cambodia; and, of course, Mexico’s now-ubiquitous elote (grilled corn slathered with mayonnaise and dusted with piquant Cotija cheese and chili powder). I’ve written about grilled corn a lot over the years, and I keep coming up with new ways of preparing it. — Steven Raichlen
HOW DO I KEEP MY CORN FROM BURNING ON THE GRILL?
Steven Raichlen, the author of this recipe has a few more tips for you. He recommends buying the freshest corn possible, not just for taste but also because it will have developed less starch. Older, starchier cobs will burn much more easily while tender, fresh cobs will give you a little more time. As well, as much as you’d like to slather butter all over those kernels while they’re on the grill, resist the urge. Do baste them—but go easy. Too much butter or oil, and it will start to drip and burn, causing lots of sooty residue on your corn and lots of smoke.
Grilled Corn on the Cob With Cheese
Today, just about everyone grills corn—and with good reason, because there’s nothing like the blast furnace heat of the live fire to intensify its natural sweetness while imparting an irresistible smoky caramel flavor. Not to mention the leopard skin dappling of yellow and black that makes grilled corn so handsome to look at. And the popcorn-like snap, crackle, pop you hear as the corn grills.
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If using corn in the husk, strip back the husk as though you were peeling a banana. Strip them all the way back so you expose the entire ear, including the last inch at the bottom. Tie the husks back with butcher’s string—the idea is to make a handle for eating the corn. Alternatively, use one or two strips of husk to tie off the handle. Pull off and discard any silk (the fine filaments between the husk and the ear).If using husked corn, proceed to step 3.
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In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Stir in the garlic and basil, and cook until fragrant, but not brown, about 2 minutes.
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Lightly brush the corn on all sides with the garlic-basil butter and season with salt and pepper.
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Arrange the ears on the grate, sliding the foil grill shield under the tied-back husks to keep them from burning. Grill the corn until the kernels are darkly browned, rotating the ears every minute or so and basting with the garlic-basil butter, 10 to 15 minutes. You may hear some popcorn-like crackling!
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Place the grated cheese in a shallow wide bowl or on a plate.
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Brush one final time with the garlic-basil butter, then roll each cob in the cheese. Devour.
Serving: 1servingCalories: 258kcal (13%)Carbohydrates: 18g (6%)Protein: 10g (20%)Fat: 18g (28%)Saturated Fat: 11g (69%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 45mg (15%)Sodium: 316mg (14%)Potassium: 268mg (8%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 705IU (14%)Vitamin C: 6mg (7%)Calcium: 229mg (23%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Originally published July 15, 2021
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