So the recipe for Grilled Sweet Corn with Chili-Lime Honey Butter has been about, ohh, 8 or 9 years in the making!
Even before the blog I was that crazy person who went to the grocery store multiple times a week. (I still follow my one big trip a week rule, but always find a reason to pop in there for one thing or another a few days later!) That said, me and the grocery store staff tend to become, well, tight over the years. One produce guy in particular at the Rainbow Foods in Minneapolis that I used to frequent over the 3 years I lived in the city after college (Uptown location – whattup?!) and I became very friendly.
We’d say hello every time I visited the store, ask how each other was doing, etc, but what I really loved was how he’d always suggest fresh recipes I should try at home. One idea he demanded I try, as I was shucking sweet corn at the store one hot summer afternoon, was corn on the cob slathered with butter then finished with a sprinkling of chili powder, and spritz of fresh lime juice.
Now I am an Iowa girl through and through – I know me some sweet corn – but around here we tend to eat it in its purest state. Shucked, steamed, rolled in butter, then sprinkled with salt. At the time I had never even thought to jazz up the classic cob, but his sassy suggestion never left my mind. It’s sad that it’s taken me so long to actually give it a whirl because I did this weekend and OMG IT IS THE BEST CORN EVER!
Summer’s sweetest corn is popped on the grill to bring a smokey contrast to the sweet flavor, then smeared with a compound butter made with chili powder, lime juice, honey, and a dash of cayenne for a kick. This side dish is so good that you may just want to double or triple the recipe to make sure there’s enough to go around!
Start with 6 Tablespoons salted butter at room temperature. I always use salted butter, even in baking. It’s a personal choice, you see. Next add 1 Tablespoon lime juice – about 1/2 lime’s worth.
Drizzle in 2 teaspoons honey next, followed by 1 teaspoon chili powder and dash of cayenne pepper. The dash can be heavy or light – totally your call!
Mix up the butter with a fork, then pop into the fridge.
FYI – compound butters freeze beautifully. Just roll in plastic wrap then pop into a freezer bag. I already have big plans to melt some of this then drizzle over freshly popped popcorn!
Time to get grillin’.
Shuck 6 ears sweet corn (gosh I hate shucking corn. Already have big plans to have my kids do this for me someday!) then pop onto a preheated grill set to medium-high. Add the corn then turn occasionally to get the ears equally cooked/lightly charred on all sides.
Slather the hot ears of corn with the chili-lime honey butter then sprinkle with salt and spritz with a lime wedge, if you please. Pull back your hair, get out the napkins, and chow down!
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Grilled Sweet Corn with Chili-Lime Honey Butter
Description
Grilled Sweet Corn with Chili-Lime Honey Butter is smokey, sweet, and easy as it is addicting!
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice (about 1/2 lime)
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- dash cayenne pepper
- 6 ears sweet corn, shucked
- salt and lime wedges, for serving
Directions
- In a small bowl add butter, lime juice, honey, chili powder, and cayenne pepper then mash with a fork until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat a grill to medium-high then add sweet corn and grill, rotating occasionally, until evenly cooked. Spread while hot with Chili-Lime Honey Butter then serve with extra salt for sprinkling and lime wedges for drizzling.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I am telling you – best corn ever! The extra sprinkling of salt and spritz of lime juice added at the end, just before biting in, is insanely delicious. The honey in the butter also helps reinforce the sweet flavor in the corn. Loved. This. Dish. Enjoy!
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Susan 07.12.2013
Tried it. Loved it. Saved it. Thank you!!
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Rachel 07.03.2013
I was so excited to see this post yesterday as I browsed your site. I bought corn this past weekend at the market and was just thinking how to cook it.
I boiled my corn instead of grilling it (no grill in my tiny apartment) and slathered it with this butter. UNREAL. Thanks!
Kelly D. 07.02.2013
Please tell me you’ve seen this trick–it’s so easy! No silk left on the corn!
Doug D 07.02.2013
That looks great. Same for me,it never crossed my mind to mess with a good thing – but this is worth a try. :) Hope you’re feeling great!
Nessa 07.02.2013
Those grill marks are perfect!
Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily 07.02.2013
That’s so funny how demographics can change the way we view and prepare even simple foods like corn on the cob. I’ve lived in the southwest my entire life and this is the way we eat corn most of the time. Definitely a keeper!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious 07.02.2013
I love that we have the same grocery store routine – one big trip but you keep going back for more, usually for a food prop grocery store run.
I also think it’s so great that you were so friendly with one of the produce guys at the store. This corn is just phenomenal, and I’ve been craving some grilled corn lately too! Plus, that honey-butter – genius!
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner 07.02.2013
I’m a pure corn eater myself, but this looks amazing and simple enough not to over-complicate the fresh taste of the corn.
MaryAnne 07.02.2013
I love these flavors together, but have always just buttered the corn, spritzed with lime juice, and then sprinkled with chili powder … can’t wait to give this compound butter version a whirl, sounds fabulous!
Theresa 07.02.2013
This sounds amazing! I can’t wait to try it out. And I’ll be saving some butter for my popcorn too, genius!!
Lynn 07.02.2013
That’s how we eat it in Texas. You will find that exact topping and more at every fair in Texas. Glad it made it to Iowa!
c 07.02.2013
Yes! Down here we call it “street corn” and add parmesan cheese- HEAVEN!
Rachel 07.02.2013
I gotta ask–What’s your secret for getting all the silk off your corn? I love fresh sweet corn (I’m from Ohio, so we too know our corn), but I hate picking silk off the cobs (and out of my teeth!)!!
Iowa Girl Eats 07.02.2013
I try and grab as much of the outer peel and silks in one handful as I can in the first couple of shucks. That seems to work best. I also know some people that use a new, unused toothbrush to brush off the silks!
Lauren 07.02.2013
I like the summery flav-ah of this! Hope you’ve been enjoying cooking in your new kitchen!
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog 07.02.2013
Sounds so good! I love chili-lime flavoring on just about everything, so I can imagine I’d love this. Perfect side for a summer BBQ.
I’m the multiple times a week grocery shopper. No matter how much I plan, I always need something or end up preferring to buy it fresh rather than I Sunday. That’s okay though, I (secretly) enjoy going to the grocery store.
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 07.02.2013
I’m finding it really hard to meal plan with your blog around because I tend to want to change plans immediately so I make what you’ve posted. I’m too impatient I guess ;)
erin @hooleywithaz 07.02.2013
drooling. i’m actually drooling. i haven’t had corn on the cob yet. i need to eat some this weekend, and my second cob should probably have this on it. the first needs to be pure. :)