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.Â
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 ~ Elote
Equipment
- Butcher’s string (optional)
- A sheet of aluminum foil, folded into thirds
Ingredients
- Mild vegetable oil for oiling the grill grate
- 4 ears of sweet corn preferably in the husk
- 4 tablespoons (2 oz) unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic peeled and minced
- 4 fresh basil leaves cut into thin slivers
- Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Lightly brush the corn on all sides with the garlic-basil butter and season with salt and pepper.
- 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!
- Place the grated cheese in a shallow wide bowl or on a plate.
- Brush one final time with the garlic-basil butter, then roll each cob in the cheese. Devour.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
Nothing says summer like grilled corn. This recipe for grilled corn on the cob with cheese doesn’t disappoint. The corn is sweet and salty from the cheese. Nutty from the grill with the right amount of fresh herb and garlic butter to balance it out.
It is certainly a no fuss side dish, perfect to serve alongside steak or whatever protein you’ve got sizzling on the grill.
If you want your side dish to stand out at your next barbecue, grilled corn on the cob with cheese is the dish to serve. A spin on Mexican elote corn, this Italian version is the essence of summer packed with garlic, basil, and (in our case) loaded with parmigiana. After getting the hang of tying the husks back to form the handle, we appreciated the technique and it made for a unique presentation of an otherwise mundane summer side dish.
Don’t be afraid to leave the corn on the grill, just keep rotating them. The dark kernels were the best part. As we took the ears of corn off of the grill, we immediately rolled them in a pile of freshly grated cheese which held on easily with a thick layer that began to melt on contact. I served my grilled corn with a freekeh salad with grilled zucchini, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh sourdough bread.
We grilled the corn for 5 minutes, basting at the start, and turning often. After 5 minutes, all the ears looked beautifully colored, and because we like our corn undercooked, removed it. We figured better undercooked than overcooked for our family. But it was perfect! I think cooking any longer than 5 minutes would have resulted in soggy corn. Brushed on the last of the basil garlic butter, sprinkled with the Parmigiano-Reggiano, and it was fantastic! Will definitely make this grilled corn on the cob with cheese again; it was super easy and so flavorful. This could be my go-to corn on the cob recipe! I served this with grilled swordfish and rice.
