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Taiwanese grilled corn
Kao yumi (烤玉米): corn grilled slowly and brushed again and again with a sweet sacha, soy and chilli glaze
At Raohe and Shilin night markets the grilled-corn stalls are easy to find: look for the queue and the smoky, sweet smell. Cobs are par-cooked, then turned slowly over charcoal while the cook brushes them with a dark glaze of sacha sauce, thick soy paste, garlic and chilli, layer after layer, until the kernels are sticky, slightly charred and deeply savoury. It is eaten hot from a paper sleeve while walking the market. Sacha (shacha) sauce, a Taiwanese barbecue paste, usually contains dried fish and shrimp; vegetarian sacha is sold in Asian shops. Contains soy, wheat and fish. Chef's tip: brush thin coats and turn often; one thick coat burns before the corn chars.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 corn cobshusks removed
- 3 tbsp sacha (shacha) sauce
- 1 tbsp soft brown sugar
- 2 garlic clovesgrated
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp water
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil 4 corn cobs in a large pan of water for 6 minutes, until the kernels are just tender. Drain and pat dry.
10 minStep 2: Whisk 3 tbsp sacha (shacha) sauce, 3 tbsp thick soy paste (soy sauce paste), 1 tbsp soft brown sugar, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp chilli flakes or chilli sauce, 1 tbsp vegetable oil and 2 tbsp water into a smooth, brushable glaze.
3 minStep 3: Heat a barbecue, griddle pan or grill to medium-high. Grill the corn for 4–5 minutes, turning, until lightly charred in spots.
5 minStep 4: Brush a thin coat of glaze all over and grill for 1–2 minutes, turning, until it bubbles and darkens. Repeat 4–5 times until the corn is sticky, glossy and deeply browned. Common mistake: grilling on the hottest heat; the sugary glaze blackens and turns bitter.
10 minStep 5: Serve hot, wrapped in a paper napkin.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 31 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does taiwanese grilled corn take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of soft brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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