Description
Comforting Corn Casserole brings delightful simplicity to classic side dishes from American kitchens. Ina Garten’s creamy blend of corn, butter, and cheese creates a rich, satisfying accompaniment you’ll crave at family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups fresh yellow corn kernels (6 to 8 ears)
- 4 extra-large eggs
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 0.75 cup (6 oz) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (plus extra to sprinkle on top)
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 onion)
- 0.5 cup yellow cornmeal
- 0.25 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 3 tbsps chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 0.75 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheating: Set oven to 375°F (190°C), establishing the ideal thermal environment for the corn casserole.
- Preparation: Generously grease a 8-10 cup baking dish to ensure effortless serving and prevent sticking.
- Corn Sautéing: In a large sauté pan, melt butter over medium-high heat, then combine corn kernels and onions, cooking until vegetables become tender and slightly translucent, approximately 4 minutes.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk eggs, whole milk, and half-and-half in a spacious mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, homogeneous consistency, then gently fold in cornmeal to eliminate potential lumps.
- Flavor Layering: Incorporate ricotta cheese, fresh basil, sugar, kosher salt, black pepper, sautéed corn-onion mixture, and cheddar cheese, stirring until ingredients are evenly distributed and create a harmonious blend.
- Baking Technique: Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, top with additional cheddar cheese, place within a larger pan filled with hot tap water to create a water bath, which ensures uniform cooking and optimal texture.
- Finishing: Bake for 40-45 minutes until the surface turns golden-brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, then allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to enhance flavor development and structural integrity.
Notes
- Kernel Selection Matters: Use fresh corn kernels for the most vibrant, sweet flavor – frozen or canned can work, but fresh delivers superior taste and texture.
- Prevent Egg Scrambling: Always cool sautéed ingredients before mixing with eggs to maintain a smooth, creamy consistency without unwanted egg chunks.
- Water Bath Technique: The hot water bath ensures even heat distribution, preventing burning and creating a tender, custard-like texture throughout the casserole.
- Cheese Customization: Feel free to experiment with different cheese varieties like Gruyère or pepper jack to add unique flavor profiles while maintaining the dish’s creamy essence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg