Creamy corn on toast
If you are from chennai and you are a foodie (and a vegetarian), you surely have eaten at Eden. If you have, then you most likely have had this thing on their menu called Corn on toast. A creamy corn with some basic veggies smeared on top of buttered toast. Oh, I am craving to have the Eden corn on toast right now. This is our adapted version of it which we have been doing for many years (you see.. its a family recipe now :D). Also out of sheer laziness, we don’t butter our toast since that requires using a pan :D. We just toast our bread and slather it with the creamy corn and top it off with some more cheese (who doesn’t want more cheese/ cream on something already cheesy/ creamy :D). If you are in the mood and don’t bother about washing an extra vessel by all means go for toasting the bread with butter on a cast iron pan (aaah.. the best).
We started off making this by boiling 2 sweet corns which in the end became 1 & a quarter thanks to Adyant who gobbled/ gnawed on the cob straight. He was crying for the other full one which we thankfully hid from him and used up for the dish :). If not, we would’ve had to convert the planned dish to something else altogether :). Ofcourse, I was and I am really happy that Adyant likes sweet corn (some healthy habits lasting amidst the others which are steadily being forgotten or boycotted). And oh, please to note the manner in which this boy devoured the corn. In case you wonder why he’s just in his undies, zoom into the pic and see the green tee hanging on the clothes stand. I taught him to do a basic wash of his clothes a few days back (mainly as a means to engage him as well as teach him some life skills) and since he didn’t like the tee I made him wear that day, he suddenly decided his tee became dirty and went and washed it (none of us realised it). Only when he ran out to dry it, we realised what he had done. In case you speak tamil then this is what is ‘sondha selavula soonyam’. I might have to take this pic off when Adyant grows up or if D isn’t happy about me putting up this pic. Until then, read and have a laugh :).
- 1 cup boiled sweet corn kernels
- 1 medium capsicum
- 1 medium onion
- 2 no green chillies
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 pods garlic 3/4tbsp when finely chopped
- 1 tbsp corn flour/ starch
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
- 6 bread slices
- 1 tbsp mozarella cheese optional
-
Chop the onion, capsicum and garlic into small/ fine pieces.
-
Heat 1tsp olive oil in a pan/ kadai. Throw in the green chillies.
-
Once the green chillies start to turn colour, throw in the capsicum and saute for 1 or 2 minutes on medium flame.
-
When the capsicum is half cooked, add the onion & saute till it becomes translucent. Add a little bit of salt at this stage.
-
Now add the boiled sweet corn kernels, 1tsp dried italian herbs. Mix everything together. Check & adjust for salt.
-
Turn off the heat & transfer the corn preparation onto a plate/ bowl.
-
Wipe/ quickly rinse the pan/ kadai.
-
Heat the pan with 1tbsp butter.
-
Throw in the garlic & saute till it just starts to turn colour.
-
Now add the corn flour & give it a quick whisk.
-
Pour the milk in constantly whisking so as to no form any lumps.
-
Now let the mixture boil for 3-5 minutes and you will see the sauce thicken.
-
Add the corn preparation at this stage & 1 tbsp parmesan cheese.
-
Mix everything together. Check & adjust for seasonings at this stage.
-
Turn off the heat. Your creamy corn is now ready.
-
Toast your bread & spread some creamy corn, a sprinkle of red chilli flakes and enjoy. You can also add a little mozarella cheese on top for that extra cheesy effect!
- The main thing I learnt is my mil adds capsicum before the onion. I never do that. My brain always says onion first & then capsicum. However she says that capsicum has more water which needs to be removed first before the onion go in. No complaints there because this dish is just plain awesome. But you can swap and do your onion first if you are like me :D.
- Another main thing I learnt from her is if you want the final product to look white (which all of us do), have a little patience or use more oil. Well, I like to fast cook everything and if I do that to the veggies with just 1t oil, then the veggies start to brown. So if you run short of time, I guess use more oil. Well, I went the patience route and oh boy, the final product was white indeed.
- We like all our food spicy. So tone down on the spice levels based on your preference.
- You can completely just use red chilli flakes and black pepper instead of green chillies.
- The creamy corn should not be runny since that will make the bread too soggy.
- You can add some more parmesan cheese if you like (duh, obviously).
- White sauce typically doesn’t go wrong. If it gets too thick, add a bit of water/ milk. If its too runny add some more cheese.
- And oh, I don’t generally have a creamy corn toast.. I just devour the creamy corn as is.
Stepwise pictures
Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a pan/ kadai and add finely chopped green chillies. 
Once the green chillies start to change colour, throw in the finely chopped capsicum. 
Saute till they are half cooked and then throw in the finely chopped onion and a bit of salt. 
Saute till the onion turns translucent. 
Now add the boiled sweet corn. 
Add 1 tsp dried italian herbs. Also check & adjust salt. 
Turn off the heat. Transfer the corn preparation on to a plate/ bowl & wipe the bowl clean with a tissue or give it a quick rinse. 
In the same bowl, heat 1 tbsp butter & throw in the finely chopped garlic. 
When the garlic just starts to change colour, add 1 tbsp corn flour 
Just give a quick whisk of the flour & garlic. 
Pour the milk in while constantly whisking it so as to no form any lumps. 
Allow the milk to boil & thicken. 
In 5 minutes or less, your white sauce should be ready (gooey thick). 
Now add the corn veggie mixture in. 
Mix the corn & veggies and add 1 tbsp parmesan cheese. 
Check for seasonings at this stage & turn off the heat. Your creamy corn is now ready! The mixture is not runny so that it doesn’t soak up the bread quite instantly. 
Now toast your bread, spread some creamy corn on it. You can also add a bit more of mozarella cheese on top for that extra cheesy effect!
