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Celebrate fresh summer corn with this collection of 30 Corn Recipes! Post includes a produce guide and a variety of recipes including corn chowder, corn cakes, grilled corn on the cob, corn salad and more!
Corn on the cob used to be one of my favorite things to eat in the summer when I was growing up. My mom would boil it and serve it piping hot, so I inserted the corn cob holders into each end of the corn, slathered on a bit of butter and ate it left to right, row by row.
Memories. 🙂
I love corn even more today, and during the summer I prepare it weekly. I normally cook up a few ears at a time and either eat it right off of the cob like I did in my childhood, or remove the kernels and toss them into salads and recipes during the week.
There’s nothing like biting into the plump, crisp kernels and tasting that milky, sweet flavor. To me, corn just tastes like summer.
What is corn?
Corn, or maize, is one of the most popular crops in America. The corn plant is an annual that’s a member of the grass family with a stout, solid stem and large, narrow green leaves.
The interesting thing about corn is that it’s considered to be a vegetable, grain and a fruit.
-A vegetable is considered to be the edible part of a plant, so when you eat corn on the cob, it’s a vegetable. -Once the kernels are removed from the cob, the individual kernels are considered to be whole grain. -The definition of fruit is an edible part of a plant that contains a seed, so when the kernels are popped into popcorn, corn is then considered a fruit!
Origin of corn
The biological origin of corn, or maize, is traced back as far as 10,000 years ago to a Mexican grass called teosinte. Teosinte was simply 12 kernels protected by a hard casing, so it hardly resembles the plump, juicy corn that we know today.
Corn was first domesticated by native Mexican people 10,000 years ago, and Native Americans taught Europeans how to cultivate it.
Since corn was introduced to the world by European explorers, it’s grown widely all around the world.
Varieties of corn
There are 4 main varieties of corn:
1. Field corn: Field, or dent corn, is used to feed livestock. There’s a small dent on the top of each kernel, which is an indication that the corn is dry, starchy and not very sweet.
2. Sweet corn: Sweet corn is the corn that you see in the supermarket. It’s plump and sweet, and is normally white, yellow or bi-color. You may see Super Sweet Corn at the market, which is sweet corn that has been “sugar enhanced” so that it tastes even sweeter.
3. Indian corn: Indian, or flint corn is extremely hard and dry. Normally it’s used as a harvest decoration, but due to its high nutrient value, they’re often used to produce corn meal, corn flour, polenta, hominy and grits.
4. Heirloom corn: Heirloom corn is crimson red or purple-black in color, and is very rare.
Uses of corn
The corn industry in the United States is vast. There are 90 million acres of corn planted in this country, and most of it is grown in the Heartland region. 10-20% of the corn produced in the U.S. is exported to other countries.
99% of the corn grown in America is field corn, which is used to feed cattle, hogs and poultry, and produce ethanol bio fuel.
Corn is also used to produce the following: corn starch, corn syrup, cornmeal, masa, polenta, corn flour, and alcohol.
How to grow corn
I’ve never grown corn in my garden because I don’t have the space and corn is very inexpensive. If you’re interested, click here.
Nutrition facts
The health benefits of corn differ depending on the type of corn that you eat. Sweet corn tends to be higher in vitamins, and popcorn tends to be higher in minerals.
Corn is a whole grain and contains 2.4 grams of fiber per serving, which means that it can improve digestion and prevent constipation.
There are about 77 calories per serving of corn, with 22 carbohydrates, 3.4 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of sugar.
Store fresh corn on the cob in the husk in the refrigerator for 1-3 days. Once corn is shucked and cooked, it will keep in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
How to freeze corn
Shuck the corn and freeze the cobs in an airtight container for several months. Corn may also be removed from the cob and frozen.
How to cook corn
There are two main ways to cook corn on the cob — boiling and grilling.
Boiled corn: Place the shucked corn in a large stock pot and cover with water by about 2″. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Immediately remove from heat and allow to stand covered for 10 minutes. Drain the corn in a colander and enjoy! Grilled corn: See my post Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob for all the details!
30+ Delicious Corn Recipes
Not sure what to do with fresh corn? Corn is so versatile, and works beautifully in both sweet and savory dishes. This roundup of delicious corn recipes includes Mexican sweet corn cake, street corn, corn chowder and corn salsa.
I hope these recipes inspire you to enjoy corn in exciting new ways this summer!
Farmers Market Grilled Flatbread Pizza
Farmers Market Grilled Flatbread Pizza is easy with ready-made flatbread crusts. Topped with pesto, melty mozzarella cheese, and fresh garden goodness, this is sure to become a favorite meal!
Grilled Mexican Corn Salad is packed with sweet, smoky charred corn and is bursting with fresh flavor. It's a versatile, easy side dish that's perfect for picnics and barbecues!
These Zucchini Fritters are golden brown, crispy, and packed with zucchini and corn! They're served with a creamy, flavorful cilantro lime Greek yogurt for an easy summer appetizer or vegetarian main dish
This creamy and healthy dairy free corn chowder is a summertime staple! Filled with fresh veggies, yukon potatoes and coconut milk, it’s jam packed with flavor and is incredibly easy to whip up. Ideas for optional add-ins included in the post.
Roasted Red Pepper and Butternut Squash Soup (Dairy-Free)
This recipe for Roasted Red Pepper and Butternut Squash Soup is thick and creamy with a smoky, spicy flavor. And it uses ready-to-cook diced butternut squash, carrots, onions and leeks, so it minimizes prep time, making it a quick and easy clean eating soup!
This salsa recipe is easier than you think to throw together! Chopping a few fresh ingredients, opening a couple of cans and whisking together some olive oil, lime juice and spices together is all it takes to make this crowd favorite.
Thin rounds of rich corn cake batter are fried in a slick of olive oil until crispy on the outside and tender in the middle, with the sweet crunch of corn in every bite.
It isn’t summer without this Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob! This recipe is a tutorial on how to grill corn using 3 different cooking techniques. Learn how to grill corn in the husk, in foil, or with the husk removed!
Creamy and so simple to make, this corn pudding recipe is a family favorite that we all love. It’s easy to make from scratch and offers so much yummy flavor that you’ll want seconds!
This quick and easy, healthy Three Bean Mexican Corn Black Bean Salad with avocado salsa dressing is the perfect Summer side! Gluten free, vegan and only one Weight Watchers Freestyle point!
This healthy grilled Mexican corn salad is tossed with juicy, smoky shrimp and has a sweet and tangy honey lime vinaigrette! Perfect for summer cook outs!
Delicious grilled corn mixed together with avocado, tomato, feta, green onions, cilantro and cucumber then tossed in an easy dressing. The perfect refreshing side dish for a BBQ!
This summer inspired hummus flatbread is topped with grilled corn, berries and drizzled with a fresh roasted garlic parsley pesto. A great pre-dinner bite!
Fresh corn on the cob is shucked, scraped and fried in a cast iron skillet with flavorful bacon drippings and sugar for the most delicious side to serve all summer!!
The perfect summertime blueberry corn chicken salad with grilled corn, shredded chicken, roasted pecans and a maple balsamic dressing. Southern comfort food made healthy!
Sweet Corn, Kielbasa and Potato Soup is for the coldest of nights! This hearty and comforting, gluten-free soup recipe is filled with savory kielbasa, creamy potatoes, and snappy sweet corn.
Marcie, I have those same memories of eating corn as a child! Always boiled, slathered in butter, with those corn cob holders. Love it! Thanks for the tips in this guide. I had no idea I could freeze corn right on the cob, so I’ll be giving that a try for sure. And thanks for including my soup in your round-up!
10 Comments on “30 Fresh Corn Recipes (+ Produce Guide)”
Marcie, I have those same memories of eating corn as a child! Always boiled, slathered in butter, with those corn cob holders. Love it! Thanks for the tips in this guide. I had no idea I could freeze corn right on the cob, so I’ll be giving that a try for sure. And thanks for including my soup in your round-up!
They’re great memories aren’t they? 🙂 Thanks so much and I’m dying to try your soup!
Three cheers for summer corn! This is such an informative post Marcie! And thank you for including my soup! 🙂
Thanks Ashley and I just love your soup! 🙂
I work for the organization that exports the corn! Thank you for highlighting the product.
Absolutely! Thank you for checking out the post. 🙂
Super interesting tidbits about corn being a veggie, grain & fruit depending on how it’s eaten! Those zucchini corn fritters are calling my name 🙂
I know right? I learned something researching this. haha. And the fritters are a favorite of mine!
This is such a great roundup, Marcie. I love corn right now! It’s so sweet, we’ve been eating so much of it. Thank you for including my salad!
It’s one of the things I look forward to most about summer and your salad looks delicious!