3400. ROASTED SWEET SUMMER CORN with MISO BUTTER, BACON and ROASTED ONIONS

serves four


2 heaping tablespoons shiro (white) miso
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 slices smoky bacon, cut crosswise into 1- to 1/2-inch-long batons (1 cup)
1 tablespoon grapeseed or other neutral oil
4 cups corn kernels (cut from 4 to 5 cobs)
heaping 1/4 cup roasted onions
1/2 cup ramen broth
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup sliced scallions (greens and whites)

Make the miso butter: Combine with the miso with the butter in a small bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until well mixed; the butter should be one color, not a streaky mess. Reserve until needed.

Heat at 10- to 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for a minute or so, until very warm. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it shrinks to about half its original size and browns but does not overly crisp, about 4 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain it on paper towels. Drain the bacon fat from the pan (reserve it for another use if you like) and return the pan to the stove.

Turn the heat to high and add the oil to the pan. When the oil smokes, add the corn to the pan. Saute, agitating the pan or stirring the corn with a spoon, until it turns bright yellow and just a few of the kernels start to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. (If the corn makes a popping noise like popcorn when it hits the pan, ease the heat back down to medium-high.)

Add the bacon and roasted onions to the pan and stir to combine. Add the broth, miso butter, a tiny pinch of salt, and 7 or 8 turns of black pepper. Glaze the corn with the butter and broth by tossing it in the pan or stirring until the butter has melted, the corn is glossy with the sauce, and there's no broth pooled in the bottom of the pan, just a minute or two.

Transfer the corn to serving bowls, scatter with the sliced scallions, and serve hot or warm.


bacon recipe source: Momofuku, by David Chang and Peter Meehan (NY: Clarkson Potters/Publishers, 2009)