Name: Roasted Baby Corn with Chili and Lime
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil; 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice ((from about 2 limes)); 1 teaspoon chili paste; 12 ounces baby corn, (husks and silk removed); 1 cup chopped scallions, (cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces (from about 4 scallions)); salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, (melted)

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Roasted Baby Corn with Chili and Lime is a fun and unique vegetarian spring and summer side dish. It bursts with fresh, sweet and spicy flavors, and always draws a crowd.

“Little” means “cute,” don’t’ you think?

Babies, puppies, doll house furniture — even a teeny tiny pencil can be cute!

The baby corn we’re cooking with in this recipe is also cute. 🙂

What is baby corn?

Baby corn, also known as young corn or cornlets, is corn that’s harvested early when it’s still very small, before its prime.
It’s very sweet with a slightly more delicate flavor than mature corn.
Just a few inches long, unlike mature corn, one eats the entire thing — cob included — which is just as sweet and tender as the kernels.
In addition to being roasted, baby corn can also be grilled, stir-fried or steamed. (Grilled baby corn is pictured below, and it’s a treat as it gets the added smoky flavor of the char from the grill.)
Baby corn recipes are quite common in Asian cuisine, especially in stir fries.

What’s in this recipe?

Just a few simple ingredients come together to create this beautiful and flavorful dish.

baby corn
green onions
chili paste
lime juice
grapeseed oil
salt, pepper

How to Make it

– Combine all of the ingredients except the salt, pepper and butter.
– Add everything to a foil-lined sheet pan and generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
– Place the pan in a preheated 425°F oven and roast until some of the corn is beginning to brown, about 8 minutes.
– Drizzle with melted butter and serve.

(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.) 

Recipe Tips and Suggestions

Feel free to add more or less of the chili paste, depending on the level of heat you like.
It’s nice to add some additional raw, chopped green onions on the dish for garnish, since those that roasted will be a darker green. This brightens up the whole plate.
If you use canned baby corn, the roasting time will be less — roast just to brown the corn — or just put it under the broiler for 30 seconds or so.
As you can see in the bottom photo, it’s pretty to serve this baby corn recipe on the silk from the corn husks.

Can you make this ahead?

Yes. It can be made a day ahead of time and either warmed before serving, or served at room temperature, which is great too.

Serving Suggestions

This roasted baby corn recipe is a great side dish that goes with almost any main course. It’s delicious with this grilled steak and this fun chicken noodle recipe.

The above image is grilled baby corn served on the silk from the husks.

Other Uses Baby Corn

Baby corn is also delicious raw! It’s lovely tossed into salads, or served with a tangy dip.
Adding baby corn to stews, curries and soups is another great idea.

Where to buy fresh baby corn?

You can easily find canned baby corn in most grocery stores, but if you can get fresh, even better!
When in season (spring-summer), it’s likely you’ll see fresh baby corn in Asian markets.
It’s also sold fresh, with the husks already removed at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
And you can special order it from Melissa’s Produce here.

More fresh corn recipes: