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This week at Celebrity MasterChef, introduced contenders with black corn known for its dark hue and hard kernels. Grown in India, America, and a few other countries across the globe, it is known for being a powerhouse of fibre, protein, and lipids. It is known to improve muscular function, reduce inflammation, promote healthy skin, and boost gut flora and fauna.
With its robust flavours and hard exterior, people often find it difficult to cook. In Celebrity MasterChef, the contestants tried cooking it in a pressure cooker for 15-20 whistles, and they were still disappointed with its hard texture. This short guide will help you master cooking black corn.
Black corn cobs are cultivated predominantly in Northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. These are also grown in some parts of Madhya Pradesh too. The cultivation requires lots of irrigation for the roots to get a tight hold of the soil.
Black Corn Dishes
Black Corn-Flavoured Rice
When one of the team on Celebrity MasterChef was about to throw away the water in which black corn was cooked, Chef Vikas Khanna and Chef Ranveer Brar suggested cooking rice in it. Nikki Tamboli, an actor and one of the contestants on the show, followed the advice and cooked grains for her burrito bowl in the same liquid. While the judges did not enjoy the three-course meal prepared by Nikki’s team, they surely loved the flavour, colour, and fragrance of the rice.
Black Corn Tikki
Both the team in the recent episode of Celebrity MasterChef struggled to cook black corn despite boiling the cobs in pressure cookers. Therefore, they opted for tikkis and kebabs. After grinding the kernels, you can mix the paste with boiled potatoes, roasted besan, salt to taste, red chilli powder, chopped green chillies, chaat masala, coriander powder, amchur powder, and a pinch of garam masala. Shallow-fry the tikkis and enjoy them with creamy dips.
Black Corn Sauce
One of the ways you can use black corn in your meal is by preparing a creamy and smooth sauce with it. After boiling the cobs, grill them to perfection to infuse smokiness in the kernels. Blend corn with butter, garlic, fresh herbs, salt, olive oil, and lemon juice. Cook this sauce in a blend of butter, chopped garlic, and coriander leaves. You can serve it with seafood, baked, and grilled snacks.
Black Corn Salsa
If you have tried yellow corn salsa, it’s time to use black kernels for a twist. Toss boiled corn with chopped onion, tomato, salt, jalapeno, and lemon juice. You can also roast the kernels in butter for a charred texture and smoky flavour. It can be layered in a taco and served with a rice bowl or grilled non-vegetarian snacks.
Black Corn Parathas
Once you boil the cobs to perfection, puree the kernels in a blender. Use the smooth paste to knead the dough. Don’t forget to season it with salt, red chilli powder, and ajwain. The dough will turn dark pink or purple, and you can use it to prepare nutritious parathas. You can also stuff the dough with paneer, gobhi, cabbage, or aloo mixture to prepare loaded parathas.
