Roasted Corn on the Cob with Roasted Garlic Butter

It’s finally here!  Warm weather, that is, and this time it looks like it will stick around.  This makes me ready for some summertime food.  My favorite way to prepare corn on the cob is to roast it in foil, either in the oven or on the grill.  The foil helps to steam the corn without it becoming mushy, which is often the result when corn is boiled in water.  Once the corn is tender, slather it with roasted garlic butter and you will be one happy eater!  Roasted garlic butter is also fantastic spread on crunchy Italian bread slices or mixed in with other roasted vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, asparagus, carrots, or potatoes.

Roasted Corn on the Cob Ingredients

4 ears corn, husks and silk removed

2 t unsalted butter, softened

Preheat oven to 450ºF.  Tear four sheets of aluminum foil approximately 12” long each.  Place one piece of corn lengthwise on each sheet of foil and spread with ½ t butter.  Fold foil ends together over corn lengthwise and fold in ends to seal.

Place foil packets directly onto oven rack.  Roast for 30 – 45 minutes, until tender but still crisp.  Remove from oven and allow to cool several minutes before serving.

Grill method: Preheat grill to medium-high heat.  Prepare corn packets as directed above.  Place foil packets on grill.  Roast for 15 – 25 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, until tender.  If corn has grill marks but is not tender yet, place on elevated rack in grill for another 5 – 10 minutes.  Remove from grill and allow to cool several minutes before serving.

Roasted Garlic Butter Ingredients

2 heads garlic

2 t olive oil

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

¼ t salt

Preheat oven to 450ºF.  Place softened butter and salt in small bowl and combine with a fork.  Set aside until garlic is roasted.

Tear one sheet of aluminum foil approximately 8” in length, then tear that in half.  Slice off the top of the garlic to expose some of the garlic (not all cloves need to be opened) and dispose of the top.  Place one piece of garlic on each foil sheet and drizzle each with 1 teaspoon oil.  Fold foil over garlic to seal.  Place foil packets on oven rack and roast for one hour.  Garlic should be soft and brown.  Remove packet from oven, open and allow to cool until garlic is easy to handle.

Squeeze garlic from its casing into bowl with the butter and salt mixture.  Mix with a fork to combine.  If desired, place garlic butter on waxed paper, shape into log, and refrigerate.  The garlic butter can then be easily sliced.

Grill method: Preheat grill to medium-high heat.  Prepare butter mixture and garlic packets as directed above.  Place foil packets on elevated rack in grill.  Roast for 30 – 40 minutes until garlic is soft and brown.  Remove packet from grill, open and allow to cool until garlic is easy to handle.  Continue with remaining directions.