Kick up this summer favorite with chili lime butter

On the 4th of July I overheard a family member saying “It’s not the 4th without corn”.  Good thing I agree…though I’d argue that it’s really not the summer without corn.  And there’s nothing quite like fresh corn, charred a bit on the grill, and top with creamy butter and salt.

So, in honor of the summer, I whipped up some corn and amped up the butter a little bit for a fresh twist on the classic.  The hardest part of the recipe is shucking the corn as everything else requires little time or attention.

Grilled Corn with Chili Lime Butter
Serves 4

4 ears of corn
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 Tbsp chili powder
Zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lime
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt to sprinkle at end

Shuck the corn and set aside. Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Once boiling, place the cleaned corn in and boil about 5 minutes, until starting to get tender.  This will make the grilling faster and easier and can be done in advance.

Heat grill to medium high.  Place corn on grill and turn about every 2 minutes until all sides have slight char marks.  Remove to platter.

While corn boiling, mash together butter, chili powder, lime zest and juice, and cayenne pepper until well mixed.  Then place on a small piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and roll until butter is a wide tube shape.  Place in fridge to re-chill while corn is cooking.

Serve grilled corn with flavored butter and sprinkle with salt as you’re about to serve.  And most importantly, savor the taste of summer!

Want more fresh, summer recipes?  Check out Amy’s archives at www.delicioubynature.com/blog

Image via Stevendepolo’s Flickr