Corn “Ribs” with Garlic Mayo

i.e. Toddler Elote!

When we were introducing solids, corn on the cob was an instant favorite with my munch. She loved holding a halved cob in her hands and gnawing at the kernels.

While a whole cob still provides some delight, I discovered at our local Thai restaurant the magic that is the corn “rib.” At Sukh in Brooklyn, they have an appetizer that takes each cob and cuts it into 8 equal pieces. They end up looking like slightly curled spareribs.

The version we tried used fresh lime juice, pulsed rice powder and spices to add a crunchy sprinkle on each rib. But since I love making elote this time of year, I decided to opt for a garlic mayo topping and a host of garnishes, depending on what your eaters will tolerate.

Elote, the classic Mexican street corn, usually has a touch of heat, a dash of cotija cheese, lots of lime and some cilantro. I’ve replaced the chile with paprika and added an additional suggestion, which is to pulse tortilla chips and use those as a crunchy sprinkle on top of the mayo mixture.

These are delicious for adults as well and slightly less messy than slathering a whole corn cob with mayo…though full disclosure, it is still messy. 

If your munch doesn’t like chewing on bones / ribs, you can always cut all the kernels off the cob and toss them with the sauce. My munch has enjoyed it both ways, depending on the effort she was willing to spend on dinner.

Sweet corn is such a low lift side this time of year, and this elote twist still comes together in under 10 minutes. It’s a perfect quickie for this Friday’s munch menu!

Also, I’m curious: how many of you are still in the solids-introducing phase? I have a post coming up about this and I’d love to know more about your approach (BBLW, purees, allergens, etc.).

The full recipe is below for paid subscribers, including an easy-to-save/ print PDF and notes on:

• Gluten-free and dairy-free modifications

• “Same same but different” modifications to make many variations

• How to turn this dish from an app into a full-sized adult salad (inspired by a recipe in my cookbook CARBIVORE)

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Corn “Ribs” with Garlic Mayo
Makes 8 munchkin servings (2 to 4 adult appetizer servings)

If your munch isn’t into the mayo mixture, you can opt for these corn ribs in their purest form: slathered with butter and salt. If you’re already firing up a grill, feel free to finish these little guys on the coals for a charred look. I prefer it with just an ultra-quick steam, especially when the corn is at its freshest and sweetest.