Indian corn is a lovely symbol of fall in North America and our Native American heritage. But can you do with it in these modern times?
From what I’ve read, the best thing to do with it is hang it on your front door for the holidays. It is colorful, natural and beautiful, and your guests will feel welcome as they walk up to your door. I usually get a bunch like these ones from Caradonna Farms at the Union Square Greenmarket and hang it from a wreath hook through Thanksgiving.
You can extract the dried kernels and make popcorn. It’s a bit of an effort, but you will definitely enjoy the fruits of your labor. And you will appreciate the energy that went into making pop corn before Orville Redenbacher and microwaves came along.
You can also boil the ears and eat them like yellow and white corn, but Indian corn is very chewy and starchy. It’s kind of bland tasting too. If you have the time to grind it up, it probably makes a nice corn meal for muffins or hominy.
I don’t mean to sound like I don’t adore Indian corn. It sustained a lot of people for centuries. But given my modern tastes, I’d rather admire it from beyond my plate and dine on our tender local ears of yellow and white.
~Karen Seiger, Markets of New York City
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