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Fried Corn

Fried Corn is made with vegan bacon, tasty seasonings and comes together in under 20 minutes. A Southern classic which will taste amazingly any time. It is a great side dish, but can be main dish served along with Hot Potato Salad, Chopped Salad, or Easy Pasta Salad.

A large spoon of Fried Corn is lifted from the pan.

I think we can all agree there isn’t anything more delicious and amazing than corn, especially in the summer. Then it is really great. No matter what, you want it, yum.

Reasons to love this Fried Corn

You will love the smell in your kitchen when you prepare it.

The perfect seasonings: I tested it on and out, because I really aimed for the most amazing flavors that compliment corn greatly.

I’ll share step by step pictures as I usually do. So you can see yourself what it is all about and looking forward to an amazing and tasty result.

Ingredients needed for making Fried Corn are collected on a wooden board.

What you need for this Fried Corn Recipe

Corn: I like to use fresh corn and I use 6 cobs of them which makes 3 cups of kernels. To remove the kernels from the cob, place your corn flat on a cutting board. Slice as many corn kernels as much as you can. Alternatively place the corn standing in a bowl and cut kernels off so they can fall into your bowls.

You could also use frozen corn, but make sure to let it thaw completely before using. Canned corn is not ideal, since the texture is not comparable to fresh or frozen. But if you have nothing else on hand, drain your corn properly and pat it dry. 

Garlic and onions add a great layer of flavoring. You know these both make everything more delicious.

Top view on a pan in which vegan bacon is pre-fried and a bowl with corn kernels.

Olive oil: I know a lot of recipes call for butter either on its own or in combination with oil. I find the flavor from olive oil alone is really amazing as it adds more flavor and makes all so texture perfect.

Vegan bacon: these are bacon bites which you can find almost anything and yes these are accidentally vegan.

Smoked paprika, oregano, chili flakes: This is kind of like a Cajun seasoning, because to be true these are simply add so much flavor and are the main things that you find in this seasoning. Leave it to me, I will give you the best – so easy.

Cilantro add so much freshness and a great flavor which goes really great in corn dishes.

Side by side top view on a pan which fried onion dices and corn.

How to make Fried Corn

In a pan, heat olive oil. Use 1 Tbs olive oil and reserve the rest for later. Add bacon and cook for 2 minutes until slightly brown. Remove from pan and set aside.

Next, add remaining oil to the pan and also heat it. Give the diced onions and pressed garlic into it and fry them for about one minute. Then mix in the corn kernels and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Season with the smoked paprika, chili flakes, oregano and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

Add bacon bites back to the pan and stir cilantro into the Fried Corn. Ready to serve.

Top view of the pan with the Fried Corn, mixed with bacon and fresh cilantro.

Tips and tricks

For leftovers, let the Fried Corn cool completely before putting it into the fridge. Use a container with a lid on top. This way you can use it for around 4 days.

Stir in other vegetables: bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, for example.

Not a fan of cilantro? Try chives or basil instead.

Closeup on a pan with the served Fried Corn.

Other corn recipes to try

Corn is delicious any time and let me show you some inspirations:

Collage of two pictures of the Fried Corn with recipe title text.

Any remakes of my Fried Corn can be shared on Instagram or Facebook.

Enjoy, Florian.

A large spoon of Fried Corn is lifted from the pan.

Fried Corn

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Fried Corn is made with vegan bacon, tasty seasonings and comes together in under 20 minutes. A Southern classic which will taste amazingly any time. It is a great side dish, but can be main dish served along with Hot Potato Salad, Chopped Salad, or Easy Pasta Salad.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups corn kernels
  • 3 Tbs olive oil, divided
  • 2 coves garlic, pressed
  • 1/2 cup onions, diced
  • 5 oz vegan bacon
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp chili flakes
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
  • salt, pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Use 1 Tbs of the olive oil and heat it in a pan. When hot, add bacon and cook for 2 minutes until it begins to brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Ingredients needed for making Fried Corn are collected on a wooden board.
  2. Heat remaining oil in the same pan. Give to diced onions and pressed garlic into the pan and fry for one minute. Side by side top view on a pan which fried onion dices and corn.
  3. Add corn and cook for 8 up 10 minutes, then stir in smoked paprika, chili flakes, oregano and a pinch of salt, pepper to taste.Top view of the pan with the Fried Corn, mixed with bacon and fresh cilantro.
  4. Finally put bacon bites back to the pan and stir cilantro into the Fried Corn. Ready for serving.

Notes

  • Let leftovers cool completely before putting them in the fridge. Use a container with a lid on top. Stays fresh for around 4 days.
  • Stir in other vegetables: bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions.
  • Not into cilantro? I know some people love it, others really don't care for it. Try chives or basil.
  • Tips for corn: For removing kernels from cob, lay your corn flat on a cutting board. Slice off as many corn kernels as you can get. Also you can place the corn standing in a bowl and cut kernels off.
  • Alternatively: Use frozen corn, but thaw completely before using. Canned corn can be used, but drain it and pat dry.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 302Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 325mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 13g
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