The first corn of the season – yum. A tip if you’re not familiar with no-spray corn. Most ears are likely to have a corn worm or two. Just cut off the affected part of the ear and you’re good to go. If I have more corn than I can use right away, I grill the extra ears in the husk. When they’re done, the husks and silks slip off easily and I store the grilled corn in a sealable plastic bag in the refrigerator. It will keep about a week that way and is still as sweet as it was the day it arrived.
In the meantime, if you need an idea for today’s fresh corn, try this recipe from Martha Rose Shulman of the New York Times. No Thai basil? Any basil will do, or just omit.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup vegetable stock, chicken stock or water 1 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce (to taste) 2 teaspoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 onion, cut in half lengthwise and sliced across the grain in half-moons 1 tablespoon minced ginger 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 summer squash (about 10 to 12 ounces), diced Kernels from 2 ears sweet corn 1 pound ripe tomatoes, diced (about 2 1/2 cups) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon sugar (to taste) 1/4 cup chopped Thai basil 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Preparation:
Combine stock or water, soy sauce and cornstarch in a small bowl or measuring cup and stir to dissolve cornstarch. Place this mixture and all the other ingredients near the burner in the order they will be used.
Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to pan. Swirl in coconut oil and add onion, garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, until onion is crisp-tender, and add squash. Stir-fry for about a minute, until you can just see the squash becoming translucent, and add corn. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, and add tomatoes, salt, and sugar. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, until the tomatoes have collapsed and stir-fry is beginning to look saucy.
Stir in Thai basil and cilantro. Stir cornstarch mixture and add to pan. Continue to stir-fry for about 30 seconds, until vegetables are glazed. Remove from heat and serve, with rice, noodles or other grains.