It belongs to the maize family and this cereal grain is harvested when they are small in size and immature. They are handpicked and since they mature quickly, one has to have clear understanding as to when to harvest it. It is usually pale yellow, blue, pink to off white in colour depending on the variety and is sold in the market in bunches. Since it has a bland taste, it is appealing all around the world and is used commonly in Asian cooking.
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Check for freshness when you hold the cob. It should be firm yet tender to touch. You can purchase them fresh in bunches or buy branded canned baby corn from super markets.
Culinary Uses of baby corn in Indian Cooking
Indian recipes using sliced baby corn |
paneer bean sprouts and spring onion soup recipe | paneer vegetable soup | healthy Indian cottage cheese soup with vegetables | Sometimes, some soups taste so heavenly you cannot believe they do not have any butter or cream in them! The Paneer, Bean Sprouts and Spring Onion Soup is one such simple yet pleasing soup made without adding any unnecessary fat. It is enriched with paneer and bean sprouts, making it an excellent source of protein. Using low-fat paneer reduces the fat content of the recipe.
paneer and broccoli stir fry recipe | paneer vegetable stir fry | healthy Indian cottage cheese stir fry with spring onions and sprouts is a power packed delicacy. Learn how to make paneer vegetable stir fry.
A colourful assortment of vegetables tossed lightly with cottage cheese and onion seeds, this healthy Indian cottage cheese stir fry with spring onions and sprouts is a delicious source of fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A, phosphorus and calcium. You can build immunity and strengthen bones both with this delicacy.
Chinese recipes using baby corn
vegetable chow mein recipe | Chinese veg chow mein | Indian style vegetable chowmein | with 32 amazing images.
vegetable chow mein is one of the gems of Chinese cuisine, well known across the world! Indian style vegetable chowmein is not a very complex dish but has a very interesting mix of textures and flavours, which is sure to intrigue your senses.
curry recipes using sliced baby corn
Thai green curry recipe | Indian style Thai green curry | veg Thai green curry | with 24 amazing images.
We present you the Vegetarian Thai Green Currywhich is traditionally a non veg Thai curry. All ingredients for this Veg Thai Curry are easily available in India.
· It can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw, it is eaten as salads. Serve raw with other vegetables along with a dip of your choice. However most recipes use cooked baby corn. The best way to cook baby corn would be to blanch it and use in recipes. However note that baby corn doesn't take much time for cooking and whether used blanched or directly stir fried, the texture and the firmness (crunch) remains the same. To blanch baby corn, add the baby corn to a pot of boiling water and allow boiling for 15 seconds. Remove and place in cold water. This will prevent "carry over" cooking. Drain off the water and use as required.
· Since it is used mostly in Asian cooking and specifically in Chinese cooking, you will find it in schezuan stir fries, starters, gravies and so on. Dip baby corn in oriental batter and deep fry. Serve with Chinese sauces. Alternatively use it in gravy dishes like baby corn Manchurian etc.
· In Indian cuisine, you can enhance the taste of kadhai and tandoori dishes using this ingredient.
· Since it cooks easily, it is a common ingredient in stir fries, pastas, pizzas, quiche, savoury tarts etc.
· Use it in broths and other soups to add variety to your recipe.
How to store baby corn
Store in freeze bags or zip lock bags and place in the fridge diction of your refrigerator. However, it is best used fresh. To store cooked baby corn, place cling film on the container in which you have placed the baby corn and use within a day.
Health benefits of baby corn
Since baby corn are picked much before the maturing stage, they hold a lower starch content. ½ cup baby corn adds in only 6.7 g of carbs, which is relatively low. Baby corn acts as a broom and helps maintain healthy bowels and avoid constipation as it is a good source of fiber. Keep an eye on the portion size always for diabetics, that’s very important to have controlled amount of starch per day. Those with cardiac problems have no reason to avoid baby corn. The soluble fiber in baby corn can help in reducing cholesterol levels. See detailed benefits of baby corn.
Baby corn cubes
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Place the baby corn on a chopping board and using a knife, chop at 1 inch intervals, across the length of the baby corn. Baby corn cubes are best used in Chinese cooking where baby corn cubes are combined with other vegetables to form base for any gravies.
Baby corn halves
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Clean and wash the baby corns. Pat them dry, place the baby corns on a chopping board and cut them carefully into a vertical halves using a sharp knife. Use as per the recipe requirement.
Baby corn roundels
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Place the baby corn on a chopping board and using a knife, cut at regular intervals across the length of the corn. You can make thin or thick roundels as required in the recipe. Roundels can be used in salads, pizzas etc.
Blanched baby corn
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In order to blanch baby corn, boil water in a sauce pan. Add the baby corn and allow to boil for 12 to 15 seconds, or as required as per size. Once done, remove and transfer the corn into a sauce pan containing cold water. This will refresh the baby corn, it will maintain its colour and will not get overcooked. Blanched baby corn is used in banquets, buffets etc where open kitchens are operational. Since the baby corn is already blanched, the recipe gets cooked faster. Use blanched baby corn in pastas, soups etc.
stir fry recipes using blanched baby corn
1. broccoli and baby corn stir fry recipe | Chinese style broccoli corn vegetable | 10 minute stir-fry recipe | Indian baby corn stir fry is probably one of the fastest cooking dishes and very delicious too. Learn how to make broccoli baby corn vegetable.
Broccoli is called ‘gai lan’ in Chinese and is an extremely favorite vegetable in the Chinese kitchen. In this 10 minute stir-fry recipe, broccoli and baby corn are tossed in together with capsicum, onions, French beans and cucumber and topped with some crunchy cashews.
sabzi recipes using blanched baby corn
baby corn palak recipe | healthy baby corn palak sabzi | Indian style baby corn spinach curry | with 25 amazing images.
baby corn palak recipe is a healthy variation to the famous North Indian palak baby corn sabzi. Palak and baby corn together is a heavenly combination in Indian style baby corn spinach curry made with zero oil.
curry recipes using blanched baby corn
veg red thai curry recipe | red thai curry with vegetables | Indian style red thai curry | thai red curry | with 18 amazing images
veg red thai curry is made with red curry paste as the base, to which lots of coconut milk is added and cooked for 5 to 6 minutes. To this we have added vegetables like baby corn and broccoli. Finally we have added paneer cubes, water and cooked till you get a perfect Indian style red thai curry. The authentic veg red thai curry used tofu in the recipe.
Boiled baby corn
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You can boil the baby corn in a sauce pan containing boiling water and salt to taste. Add the corn and boil until cooked as required. Ensure that since baby corn has a pale appearance, you don't over boil the baby corn.
Chopped baby corn
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To chop baby corn, place it on a chopping board and using a knife make slit lengthwise at the centre to get two equal parts. Now hold both the parts together and using a knife, make cuts or dices at equal intervals and chop according to size required. The small pieces that are obtained are commonly used in savoury tarts and quiches where chopped baby corn is used as one of the ingredients for the filling.
Diagonally cut and blanched baby corn
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To cut the blanched baby corns diagonally, place the blanched baby corns on a chopping board and using a sharp knife, make a series of diagonal parallel cuts and you will get 1" long diagonal strips of baby corn. You can cut baby corn diagonally into big or small pieces, as per the recipe requirement.
Diagonally cut baby corn
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Place the baby corns on a chopping board and using a sharp knife, make a series of diagonal parallel cuts and you will get 1" long diagonal strips of baby corn. You can cut baby corn diagonally into big or small pieces, as per the recipe requirement.
Sliced and blanched baby corn
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Place the baby corn on a chopping board. Hold the knife at a slant position and slice at regular intervals to get long slices. The shape that you will achieve will be something similar to a kite shape or "lozenge". Now place the sliced baby corn in sauce pan containing boiling water. Allow to boil for 8 to 10 seconds, or as required as per size. Once done, remove and transfer the corn into a sauce pan containing cold water. This will refresh the baby corn, it will maintain its colour and will not get overcooked.
Sliced baby corn
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Place the baby corn on a chopping board. Hold the knife at a slant position and slice at regular intervals to get long slices. The shape that you will achieve will be something similar to a kite shape or "lozenge". Sliced baby corn is widely used in pizzas, pastas and stir fries.