Long hot Southern summers produce delicious corn, but some of the best corn I ever had in my life was from New Jersey. The farmer had a stand on the side of the road in front of his cornfield. He would ask how many you wanted, and march back into the green, rustling stalks to pick your order. Freshness is important, since the moment corn is picked, the sugars begin converting into starch. Straight from the row to a pot of boiling water is an indulgent luxury. Some folks may look twice when they see that this recipe instructs you to coat the corn in mayonnaise. It’s a Southern take on Mexican corn that is coated in crema, a soft sour cream–like cheese. You cannot get more Southern than mayonnaise. If you don’t care for mayonnaise, use soft unsalted butter instead.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the unshucked corn in the sink and add water to cover. Weight down the corn with a heavy pot or plate to keep it submerged. Let the corn soak for about 30 minutes. Remove the corn from the water, pull back the husks, and strip away the silk. Season the corn with salt and black pepper. Pull the husks back over the corn and place in the oven, directly on the rack. Roast until the corn is tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, combine the cheese and cayenne in a shallow plate. Set aside.
Step 3
Remove the corn from the oven and shuck while warm. Using a pastry brush, coat the hot ears of corn with mayonnaise. Roll the ears in the cheese mixture to coat. Serve immediately.
