Native American Corn in the Coals Recipe

This is the way Native Americans cooked corn, though they put the
unhusked ears directly into the hot ashes to roast or covered them
with a layer of earth, then piled hot coals on top.

Corn Roasted on the Grill
8 ears unhusked sweet corn
1/2 cup (1 stick) flavored butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (optional)

1. Prepare grill for medium heat.

2. Because the ears are too hot to handle when they come off the grill, it’s better to peel back the husks and remove the silks before roasting the corn. To do this, carefully peel the husks down to where they meet the stem and remove the silks. If desired, flavored butters, salt and pepper, or other seasonings can be added at this point. Fold the husks back around the ears and secure them with strips of foil.

3. Place the corn on top of a grill rack directly over medium heat. Cover the grill and roast the corn for 20 minutes, giving them quarter turns every 5 minutes.

Pan-Roasted Kernels
Pan-roasting fresh kernels until they are golden brown brings out their nutty flavor, and it’s faster than cooking whole ears on the grill. Start with a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kernels and roast without stirring for 5 minutes. Stir and roast 5 minutes longer, until brown. If desired, add a drizzle of olive oil halfway through if the kernels are sticking, but don’t add enough to “fry” the corn. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve atop fish, potatoes, salads, meats, grains, and soups.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Side Dishes

Adapted from Corn, by Olwen Woodier (Storey Books, 2002). Copyright (c) 2002 by Olwen Woodier. Reprinted by permission of Storey Books.
Adapted from Corn, by Olwen Woodier (Storey Books, 2002).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Nils Anders L.

12:08AM PDT on Apr 3, 2013

April 3
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KS G.

4:49AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Thanks for the article.

February 29
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Audrene C.

7:08AM PDT on Jul 22, 2011

I soak ears of corn several hours in cold water..when the husks are soaked good I stand the ears on end to drain excess water off then it's grill time.. When finished have a 3# coffee can full of hot water which you add butter to. When melted just peel the husks back and dip in the hot water which butter has been added. The butter will cling to the kernals. Add salt and enjoy.

July 22
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Robert O.

12:51AM PDT on Jul 22, 2011

Thanks Annie!

Pat V.

7:04PM PDT on Jul 7, 2011

Love roasted corn ty.

July 7
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Melly R.

2:21PM PST on Feb 3, 2010

Thanks for sharing!

February 3
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stana H.

6:13PM PDT on Oct 7, 2008

ps when ever i make home made corn i near always add corn of some kind to the bread and i find if i double the the amount of the whole batch it sems to make a higher raised finished product! yum then honey and butter to your hearts content! or not!

October 7
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6:10PM PDT on Oct 7, 2008

ok ! now i want some of this corn! yum...where can i get some already cooked ? so all i have to do in just enjoy?!!

Jeannine P.

5:38PM PDT on Oct 6, 2008

mmmmmmmm thank you. bought some beautiful home grown multi colored corn the other day from a farm down the road. definately worth saving some for seeds - organic red blue and yellow!