In the summertime, we like to grill all kinds of goodies outdoors, including corn on the cob, but grilling isn’t your only option when it comes to pairing corn with other foods. There are so many great ways to serve this summertime and autumn classic.
Your imagination and taste buds are really your only limitations when creating tasty corn on the cob treats. In this article, we offer some fun suggestions to help you make the most of this tasty veggie and great ideas for interesting menu combinations. Read on to learn more on what goes with corn on the cob.
What You'll Learn Today
Explore A Vast Array Of Corny Taste Sensations!
Classic corn on the cob with butter can be dressed up with a wide variety of spices. Try some of these to find your own favorite taste sensation:
- Smoked Paprika
- Caraway Seeds
- Celery Seeds
- Coriander
- Tarragon
- Turmeric
- Oregano
- Cayenne
- Cilantro
- Saffron
- Parsley
- Pepper
- Thyme
- Ginger
- Cumin
- Chives
- Basil
- Mint
- Sage
- Dill
Just try a light dusting of one spice at a time on a small portion of your ear of corn. Some you’ll love and some you won’t, but you are sure to find something new to broaden your culinary horizons.
There are also some interesting combinations of spices, flavorings and toppings that can make eating corn a culinary adventure!
- Sprinkle on some parmesan cheese and garlic salt.
- Douse corn on the cob with lemon juice and sprinkle it with sugar.
- Freshly grilled corn is very good topped with salsa and a squeeze of lime juice.
Try these, and make up a few of your own! One thing I wouldn’t recommend trying is to add some corn syrup. 🙂
5 Juicy Corn Recipes To Beat The Summer
Explore Flavor Combinations & Create Memorable Meals
Have a barbecue that offers something for everyone. Corn on the cob is also great when paired with a wide variety of foods. It is the perfect side dish with grilled steaks, burgers, hot dogs and/or sausages.
Corn on the cob is great when it’s cooked on the grill. Be sure to steam lots of fresh summer veggies as an additional side dish.
Fresh garden veggies are the perfect summertime accompaniment to any backyard barbecue.
Steam some tortillas as well, and cook up a pot of lentils or beans. Grill some eggplant and/or mushroom “steaks” as well!
Your meat loving guests will enjoy your veggie offerings, and your vegetarian and vegan guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
This Vegan Barbecue Feast includes grilled watermelon, grilled pineapple and Mexican style corn on the cob!
Chicken & Fish Go Great With Corn on the Cob!
Here are six great menus to follow or mix and match!
1. Fried chicken is another classic that goes perfectly with corn on the cob. Enjoy a traditional picnic meal of chicken, corn, Farmhouse potato salad, Cole slaw and biscuits.
2. If you want to stay away from fried foods, just roast a chicken, steam some fresh veggies, bake some sweet potatoes and boil up some corn.
3. Corn on the cob is also the perfect accompaniment to all sorts of fish. Grill the corn right alongside trout or tilapia and serve it with a salad for a fresh, simple meal.
4. Pan fry breaded fish, and serve it with Italian stewed tomatoes. Serve corn on the cob brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with black pepper.
5. For a Cajun style supper, red pepper marinade will add spice to the fish. Cook up a pot of red or black beans and boil some corn. Butter the corn on the cob and dust it with paprika.
6. Prepare a traditional southern dinner of fried catfish, macaroni and cheese and buttered corn on the cob. Cole slaw and/or black eyed peas would be nice additions to this meal.
Fried Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese, And Corn On The Cob
Corn On The Cob Is An All-Time Favorite!
Corn on the cob is a great addition to any meal, and it’s delicious on its own, whether you enjoy it as a Mexican street food treat, a butter dipped state fair specialty or even if you boil a pot of water in the garden, bend the corn stalk to dip the ear in it and “eat it right there standing up.”
To quote Colonel Potter of M*A*S*H* fame, it’s “Scrumptious!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Chopped up corn cobs make a great addition to your compost heap outdoors, if you turn the heap often. They are not so great for indoor compost bins because corn cobs tend to get moldy without a lot of air circulation.
If you rinse off the butter or other toppings, you may find that your horses, donkeys, goats and/or cattle will enjoy them as treats. Pigs will like them as-is, toppings and all. Many dogs will, too; however, corn cobs tend to be too fibrous for dogs to digest easily.
All of your livestock will surely enjoy corn on the cob if you have a bigger crop than you can use. You can also dry it to share with squirrels, deer and big bossy birds like jays and crows.
Just as with corn cobs, you can add them to an outdoor compost pile that gets turned frequently. Horses, donkeys, mules, goats, cattle and pigs all like to eat them, but if you buy your corn at the supermarket, you must be sure to rinse the husks very thoroughly. They are likely to have some pesticide residue on them.
No, corn on the cob is too moist, and it’s the wrong kind of corn, to pop. To cook corn on the cob in your air fryer, clean the corn as if you were going to boil it. Coat it with melted butter and cook it in your air fryer for about 15 minutes, turning it once in the middle of the cooking time.
I often add corn to salad. The recipe is very simple and super tasty!