My friend’s aunt showed me how I was supposed to eat the corn: first, I sprinkle some spices and salt on the lime, and then I rub the lime all over the corn. I was very skeptical about all of this. You know how teenagers are sometimes when they see new foods they’ve never tried before. So, I did what she suggested, rubbing this lime that’s been muddled with red spices all over the corn, making a mess along the way. I finally took a bite, and you know what, it tasted great! I did go a little crazy with the spice, so the heat got to me a little. Once I opened my mouth and fanned my tongue a few times, I was ready for more. (Side note, why do we always do that when we eat spicy foods anyway?!) I thought of this experience a few weeks ago, and it inspired me to make this grilled corn salsa. Initially, my idea was to grill corn on the cob and rub all the spices on the corn first before slicing off the kernels, similar to what I did at my friend’s party. After trying different cooking methods, I realized that mixing all the ingredients inside a bowl was a better way to distribute all the spices, so, that’s what I’m sticking to! One of the key ingredients in Indian roasted corn is chaat masala, which isn’t easy for me to find. That’s why I just used whatever spices in my pantry to flavor the salsa. It’s not exactly Indian roasted corn, but it still tastes great!
MASTERING MY MISTAKES / COOKING NOTES
Grilling the corn on the stove: Okay, so I don’t actually own a barbecue grill, which is why I grilled it on top of the stove. This method of grilling the corn works, but you do have to keep an eye on the corn! As the corn is grilling, the kernels will start to pop and some juices might splatter. Be careful and don’t stand too close to the stove. Things do get a bit messy, so you’ll probably need to scrub your stove once all is said and done. Unless you’re Mama Lin, in which case, your entire stove is already covered in foil. Asian parents, what can you say?Baked tortilla chips: The chips you see in the photos are my homemade baked tortilla chips! Here’s the recipe for them.Alternative cooking method: If you don’t have a gas stove, you can just slice off the corn kernels and pan fry them lightly in a pan.Make sure to use metal tongs: You don’t want anything to melt while you’re turning the corn around. These are the tongs I used.
