Roasted Corn with Lime, Parmesan and Chili

- Merrill

A few weeks ago, Amanda and I had dinner with friends at Market Table, a restaurant in the West Village with a strong focus on seasonal, local ingredients. I was fortunate enough to order what ended up being the star dish of the night: a riff on elote, the ever-more-popular Mexican version of corn on the cob typically involving lime, chili, mayo, cheese and a grill. This incarnation was served off the cob and piled high on a small plate -- it was creamy, tangy, spicy and sweet all at once.

After Amanda and I had each sampled a few forkfuls, we looked at each other and said in unison: "Cooking from every angle!" (This happens more than occasionally, by the way.) So, here it is: my best attempt at recreating Market Table's lovely, nuanced corn dish. Because I was impatient and didn't feel like waiting for the grill to heat up, I pinched Andrew Feinberg's technique of roasting the corn kernels off the cob, and I think it works really well here.

Roasted Corn with Lime, Parmesan and Chili

Serves 2

• 3 medium ears corn
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon sour cream, at room temperature
• ¼ cup milk, at room temperature
• Juice of 1 large lime, plus wedges for serving
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• Generous pinch of cayenne

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Shuck the corn and cut the kernels from the cobs, tossing them in a bowl with the olive oil and plenty of salt and pepper. Spread the kernels evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, scraping and turning over the kernels once or twice, until they’re tender and lightly caramelized.

2. Put the corn back into the bowl and stir in the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, lime juice, Parmesan and cayenne. Taste and adjust any of the flavorings, including salt and pepper, if necessary. (If the corn is at all sticky, just add some more milk.) Serve immediately, with lime wedges, while still warm.