10 Fresh Corn Recipes to Try at Home

Although nutritional experts consider corn a starchy vegetable, fresh corn contains fiber and nutrients that can promote a healthy lifestyle. Adding corn to your diet may have a few health benefits, including:

1. 1. Potentially preventing heart disease: Fresh corn is a whole cereal grain that contains phytochemicals—like polyphenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids—with beneficial medicinal properties. Hence, moderate consumption of whole cereal grains like corn may help prevent cardiovascular diseases and reduce the effects of chronic diseases.
2. 2. Providing a source of vitamins: Corn is a good source of vitamins B and C and magnesium and potassium, nutrients that promote immune health and provide the body with energy. Cooking or grilling corn kernels retains the vitamins within the ears of corn, so you can still reap the health benefits from grilled or roasted corn.
3. 3. Promoting eye health: Corn contains lutein and zeaxanthin—yellow antioxidant carotenoids that give the cereal grain its hue—which may promote eye health. These pigments may also prevent cataracts and other age-related eye diseases.

From Mexican street corn to Japanese corn soup, there are hundreds of corn recipes worldwide. While fresh sweet corn from the farmers’ market will impart a pure corn flavor to your favorite recipe, frozen corn is an acceptable substitute in a pinch. Here is a roundup of fresh corn recipes from cuisines around the world:

1. 1. Mexican corn salad: Esquites are cups of Mexican corn salad topped with fresh lime juice, mayonnaise, butter, cheese, and chile powder or hot sauce. In Mexico and parts of the United States—like California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas—street vendors often sell these corn cups (a.k.a. elote en vaso, or “corn in a cup”) side by side with elotes, or grilled corn on the cob. At home, Mexican corn salad makes a refreshing side dish for tacos, quesadillas, or tamales. Crumbled cotija cheese and Mexican crema serve as a creamy sauce for this salad; however, you can use feta, parmesan, goat cheese, or sour cream as substitutes. Add cumin for extra flavor and top with chopped cilantro.
2. 2. Homemade corn tortillas: With a sweet flavor and soft texture, warm, homemade corn tortillas are a staple of Mexican and Latin American cuisine. The thin, unleavened flatbread is a perfect appetizer, accompaniment to a larger meal, or vehicle for burritos, tacos, sizzling steak fajitas, or quesadillas. Simply add your choice of toppings and enjoy. Use veggies like grilled zucchini, red onion, cherry tomatoes, black beans, and bell peppers to fill out your wraps.
3. 3. Corn potage: Like corn chowder, creamy corn potage is a popular Japanese soup that combines sweet corn flavor with rich, velvety heavy cream, drawing direct inspiration from thick, French potage-style vegetable soups. Corn potage consists of fresh or canned creamed corn, chicken broth, sautéed onions, milk, cream, and butter. Enjoy this hot soup as comfort food during the winter months, or chill your corn portage to serve as a refreshing corn dip with tortilla chips during the summertime. You can also make this classic easy corn soup recipe using a slow cooker.
4. 4. Cornbread: Sweet, moist cornbread is the ultimate side dish or accompaniment at a backyard BBQ or cookout, pairing well with staples like fried chicken, ribs, and pulled pork. While standard cornbread is notable for its sweet flavor, you can fully customize the batter to suit the flavor of any entrée you’re cooking. Additions such as jalapeños, poblanos, paprika, and chives impart a chipotle taste to the batter, while fried okra with lime butter creates a savory, smoky flavor. Make a batch of the classic side using this buttermilk cornbread recipe, or use the batter to make corn muffins.
5. 5. Baby corn: Baby corn is a miniature form of corn on the cob that can add an interesting texture to dishes or soak up the juices of other flavorful ingredients. Asian stir-fry recipes often include baby corn alongside tofu, bell peppers, and chilies: The sautéed veggie adds a crunchy texture to the dish’s noodles and protein. You can also make corn pudding, corn casserole, or crispy corn fritters with baby corn. Learn how to fry, sauté, blanch, steam, boil, and roast baby corn.
6. 6. Pickled corn: Pickled corn is a way to preserve fresh corn kernels in a vinegar-based pickling liquid. This recipe pairs thinly sliced jalapeño and zesty black peppercorns with sweet corn kernels for a sweet, salty, and spicy bite.
7. 7. Corn on the cob: Corn on the cob is a dish of fresh, cooked ears of corn with kernels that taste sweet and buttery, possibly even with some savory char from the grill on which they cooked.
8. 8. Corn bisque: Corn bisque has all the flavor of corn chowder, but with a smooth texture that’s the result of blending and then straining the soup.
9. 9. Corn pudding: Corn pudding is a traditional baked dish commonly made in the Southern US that combines fresh sweet corn, canned creamed corn, and simple pantry staples.
10. 10. Corn chowder: Creamy corn chowder is a thick, hearty soup consisting of sweet corn kernels, vegetable or chicken stock, heavy cream, and assorted spices. The soup has an intentional chunky, rustic texture, with most of the corn kernels left whole.

Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Mashama Bailey, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more.