Maque Choux Corn Recipes

CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon, and let drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet.
• Add butter to drippings, and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Add bell pepper, onion, and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes. Add corn and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add cream, salt, black pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring frequently, until cream has reduced slightly, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Crumble bacon, and stir into corn mixture. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Garnish with oregano, if desired.

CAJUN CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• 1. Cut the kernels off of the corn into a large bowl. Using the back of the knife, scrape the sweet corn milk from the cobs to extract about 3 tablespoons and add it to the bowl. Set aside.
• 2. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat renders and the bacon is crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Add the butter to the skillet and when melted, add the celery, bell peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes. Add the milk, scallion whites, garlic, tomatoes and corn. Cook until thickened, 10 minutes.
• 3. Serve garnished with the scallion greens and reserved bacon.

CORN MAQUE CHOUX (FRIED CORN)

Steps:

• In the skillet, heat the butter over medium low heat until melted.
• Add the onion and saute until wilted but not brown.
• Add the bell peppers and the corn and stir to coat everything with butter, sprinkle with some salt, pepper, and cayenne, and continue cooking over med-low heat, stirring frequently, until all liquid (if any) completely evaporates, the vegetables start to take on a slight caramalization and the whole room smells really, really good.
• (This should take about 20 minutes).
• Taste, adjust the seasonings if you need to, and serve.
• Note: I say to use a cast iron skillet because, as with cornbread, I believe this dish suffers in flavor if it is not cooked in one.
• However, if you don't have one, you can use another skillet- just know that it would be much better cooked in a cast iron skillet.

KICKED UP CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the corn, onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, Essence, and salt, and cook, stirring, until soft, for 10 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 2 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and serve hot.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

CAJUN CORN AND BACON MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Cut corn off the cobs by thinly slicing across the tops of the kernels; place in a medium bowl. Cut across the kernels again to release milk from the corn, add milk to bowl. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and green pepper, cook until onion is transparent, about 5 to 8 minutes. Combine corn, tomatoes, and milk with the onion mixture. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook 20 minutes longer, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Do not boil. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Lower heat, cover skillet, and cook 5 to 10 minutes longer. Stir in green onions and bacon. Remove from heat and serve.

CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Using high heat combine 4 T butter, oil, onions, sugar, pepper, salt, cayenne, and corn in a large skillet or frying pan. Cook until corn is tender and starch forms a crust on the pan bottom, about 14 to 16 minutes. Stir occasionally and stir more as it starts to stick.
• Gradually add 1 C of the stock, scraping the pan bottom and continue cooking 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add 4 T butter and stir. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping pan bottom.
• Reduce heat to low and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add 1/4 C stock and cook 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the remaining 1 C stock and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in 1/2 C evaporated milk and continue to cook and stir until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• In a bowl, combine eggs and the remaining 1/2 C evaporated milk. Beat until frothy. Stir into the corn and serve. Heat from the corn will cook the eggs, but will not curdle.

MAQUE CHOUX CORN

Steps:

• Shuck the corn.
• Working with one cob at a time hold over a bowl and cut away the kernels in layers (you don't want to end up with whole kernels).
• Scrape the knife down the cob to "milk" it.
• Heat the butter in a Dutch oven or other large heavy pot over medium-high heat then add the onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
• Sauté until onions are transparent (about 15 minutes).
• Stir in the salt and pepper then add the corn and the milk (from the cobs) and stir well.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook until the corn is tender (20-30 minutes).
• If mixture begins to dry out before corn is tender, add a little milk and butter.
• Notes: Sometimes I add some andouille or smoked pork sausage or tasso just to give it a change of taste.