Sweet Gingered Corn Food

HONEY GINGERED CORN EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer and add the loose tea. Allow to steep for a few minutes. Turn off the heat, then add the reserved corn husks. Allow the husks to soak in the heated water for 5 minutes. Remove to a sheet tray to cool slightly.
• In a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, saute the shallot, garlic and ginger with the oil and sweat down until the shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes. Transfer this mixture to a medium bowl and add the creme fraiche, honey, sambal, lemon zest and juice and season with salt and pepper. Add to the corn in the bowl and mix well.
• Preheat your desired cooking location to medium-high heat: clam bake, pizza oven or grill.
• Line a sheet tray with 1 sheet foil and top with the soaked corn husks. Top the husks with the corn mixture and top the corn with more corn husks. Wrap tightly en papillote with foil. Wrap the foil pouch with 2 more sheets foil to seal, then transfer to your desired cooking location: clam bake, pizza oven or grill.
• Cook for 20 minutes over medium-high heat, then let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and carefully cut open with scissors. Garnish with the parsley and serve.

GOLDEN SWEET CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray or lightly grease a 9 inch round cake pan.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk and vegetable oil until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

SWEET CORN AND CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Pour 10 cups water into a big stock pot and bring to a boil over high heat. While it's coming to temp, throw in the leek, carrot, and hunk of ginger. Place the coriander and peppercorns into a small square of cheesecloth. Tie with kitchen string and add to the pot.
• Skin the chicken breasts, remove any excess fat, and throw the chicken breasts into the pot. Allow the whole lot to come to a boil, and then turn it down and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked and tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the chicken and allow to cool. Strain the stock and discard the leeks, carrots, ginger, and cheesecloth sachet.
• Return the stock to medium heat. Add the creamed corn, bouillon cubes, chopped ginger, scallions, and sesame oil. Keep the soup at a gentle simmer while you remove the chicken from the bone and shred finely using a fork. (Or you can just slice it really thinly.)
• Turn up the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the cornstarch with the water until smooth. Add half to the soup whilst stirring. Allow to boil until it's thickened to the soup consistency of your liking. (If it doesn't thicken, add the remaining slurry.)
• Turn the heat back down to medium. In another small bowl, beat the egg whites with a little water. Stir the soup in circles as you add the egg whites in a steady stream; it should form pretty white wisps on the surface of the soup.
• Add the shredded chicken and rice vinegar. Cook for 5 minutes, allowing everything to warm through. Taste for seasoning. Serve with a splash of soy sauce and some of the reserved scallion greens.

CURRIED CORN SOUP WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks, celery and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened but not browned, about 10 minutes.
• Add the ginger, garlic, thyme, curry powder and potato. Cook, stirring, until the potato is coated in the spices, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, 2 cups water and the sugar and bring to a boil. Add the corn, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes. Add the heavy cream and continue cooking until warmed through, about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Working in batches, transfer the soup to a blender and puree until smooth; return to the pot. Season with salt. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan and reheat if needed. Serve with toppings.