Going for a barbecue or Grilled Corn or bhutta or kanis at home
As summer gets hotter people get out their grills. When Indian vegetarians get invited to a summer barbecue sometimes the only options available for them are a veggie burger patty and roasted sweet corn. It doesn’t have to be those and we will write more about it, this summer. But if you are indeed going to do roasted corn/ grilled corn on a charcoal/gas grill/cooking range/ then creme brulee torch, might as well do it well. This is very popular indian street food and the charcoal grilled corn is called bhutta or kanis.
Grilled Corn or Bhutta or Kanis Tips
The following could go wrong
- Corn is grilled but undercooked
- See below about pre-cooking corn
- Make sure your charcoal grill is well fired up – but not too hot that it grills the outside within seconds without cooking the inside
- Corn is over-grilled and has lost all the moisture
- See below about pre-cooking corn
- Make sure your charcoal grill is well fired up – if it takes too long to cook the moisture in the kernels is going to cook off by the time you get the grill marks
- Cant grill corn fast enough for a big group
- See below about pre-cooking corn – then it is all about getting the grill flavor quickly
Pre-Cooking Corn for Grilled Corn or Bhutta or Kanis
If you are going to cook one or two for yourself or maybe 20 for a party, pre-cooking them makes your life easier. If you buy them with husks on and are just cooking a few of them just wet the husks by sprinkling some water over them and microwaving the corn for 2 to 3 minutes. You can then grill them right away or they can go in the fridge.
If you are cooking 20 of them soak the husks gently in water and cook them in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. You can then grill them right away or they can go in the fridge.
If you have dehusked corn, for microwave you can wrap them in a moist towel or paper towel. For the oven you can cook them in a pan which is covered with foil.
In both methods, the corn kernels cook on the cob with the moisture trapped in the husks steaming them. When its time to grill you just then need to make sure you can really char them, if you use charcoal the smoky flavor will come from the charcoal as well.
When you turn up for the barbecue with 20 of these precooked corn in their husks – you can grill them off on a really hot grill in a couple of minutes and they are done – a neat party trick!
This method will also guarantee the juicy grilled corn.
Grilling options for Grilled Corn or Bhutta or Kanis
If you are grilling at home, and have a creme brulee torch, use it! we would even say if the barbecue lines for corn get long, take the torch with you!
Always be safe when grilling, the stem of corn comes in handy and so do the peeled husks to hold it.
If your sweet corn came peeled or without husks or a long stem, use the sharpest knife and cut the corn at the base and insert a barbecue skewer to hold safely.
A Brulee torch and pre-cooked corn can get you to roasted sweet corn in a matter of minutes and the charred flavor is definitely there.
If you are using a charcoal grill
- Make sure your charcoal is hot
- To light it use a chimney and light it without any fuel on the coal itself by using a starter fire at the base of the chimney
- Let the fir rage and get the charcoals really started before loading them in the grill
Then keep the charcoal hot by fanning and make sure the corn is grilled on a hot grate that is not too far from the charcoal. As the corn is pre-cooked this should be done in a matter of minutes and it does get the smoke flavor of charcoal, which intensifies if you cover the grill a bit.
Indian style street food grilled corn or bhutta or kanis
Roasted corn seasoned this way is sold on streets of India. This is called bhutta or kanis (This means corn but people immediately think of roasted seasoned corn) and is an exciting part of the street food of india. Next part is the easiest. Mix in a very good sea salt with some chili powder – sweet or hot depending on your preferences. If you want you can go with paprika and a bit of ground cinnamon powder as well for something new. Cut a piece of lime. Do not use bottled lime juice.
Dip the piece of lime onto the salt and chili powder mixture and squeeze some juice and smear it on the grilled corn with the piece of lime. If you have husks they are a great way to serve the corn.
That’s it, eat one right away as you grill the next batch! We hope this post has helped you know about oven baked sweetcorn, know which corn roasting machine for sale to look for, indian corn recipe or indian recipe with corn. If you are in food business maybe it helps you give ideas on corn roasting trailer, corn roasting food trailers, corn roasting trailers and commercial corn roaster. I hope this allows you to make spectacularly delicous grilled corn or grileld bhutta or kanis with a spicy lemony rub.
Roasted Sweet Corn (Indian street food style)
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Description
Chowpaty style indian roasted sweet corn with lime salt and chili powder. Pre-cooking yield perfect results every time very very quickly.
Ingredients
4 sweet corns with husk on
2 tsp salt
2 tsp red chili powder
1 lime cut into 2 pieces
Instructions
soak the husks by sprinkling water
microwave them for 3 minutes with the husks (if stem is too long for the microwave you can cut the corn at its base to fit it). The husks keep the moisture in and have a steaming effect resulting in juicy grileld corn. If corn you have is de-husked, wrap in a wet towel or a wet paper towel.
Let the corn cool a bit then carefully peel it
Hold it by the peeled husks and stem or insert a skewer by cutting off the stem at the base
Use a creme brulee torch and char the corn (Alternatively you can use a charcoal grill, gas grill or stove or even a wire rack on a glass top)
Mix the salt and chili powder and squeeze some lime juice, then dip the same lime in this mix and smear using the lime onto the grilled corn to serve
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 2 mins
- Category: Snack
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: indian
Keywords: indian style corn
