Creamed corn conjures images of cafeterias and frozen TV dinners. But freshly cut corn, blended with a touch of butter to engage the natural starch in the kernels, is as surprising as it is satisfying. Making a quick broth with the cobs ensures that every last drop of flavor and starch is pulled from them.
Read more: A Week of Dinners with Abra Berens
Creamless Corn with Sautéed Greens and Seared Salmon
Ingredients
- 6 ears
sweet corn (about 1/2 cup per ear), shucked, kernels cut off, cob liquid reserved
Neutral oil
- 2 sprigs
fresh thyme
- 1
medium red onion or shallot, cut into thin slices
Salt
- 4 tablespoons
butter
Freshly ground black pepper
- 6
(6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets
- 2 or 3 bunches
kale or any hearty greens you have like chard, cabbage, beet greens, or a mix (about 1 pound total), cut into ribbons
- 2 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup
white wine
- 1/4 teaspoon
red pepper flakes
Instructions
In a medium pot, place the cobs and just enough water to cover and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the cobs from the liquid, giving them one final scrape with the back of a knife to extract as much liquid as possible back into the pot.
Bring the liquid to a boil and reduce to 2 cups.
In a new pot (or transfer the boiled liquid to a bowl and reuse the pot if you like), heat a glug of neutral oil over high heat until shimmering, and fry the thyme, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and sweat the onion with a big pinch of salt, about 5 minutes.
Remove the thyme sprigs and add the corn kernels and the 2 cups cob broth. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
Use an immersion blender or food processor to whiz the corn until well blended, knowing there will be some chunks left. Add the butter, a pinch of salt, and pepper and stir until the butter is melted. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
In a large frying pan, heat a glug of oil until smoking. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Pat the skin-side dry and sear until medium. Remove from the pan to a plate, and let rest.
Wipe the frying pan clean and heat another glug of neutral oil over high heat until smoking. Add the greens and lightly fry. Add the garlic, a pinch of salt, the wine, and the pepper flakes and let cook until the liquid is reduced.
Spoon the corn onto dinner plates. Add a big forkful of greens to each and top with the salmon, skin-side up.
Recipe Notes
Reprinted with permission from Ruffage by Abra Berens, Chronicle Books 2019.
Find the book: Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables, by Abra Berens
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