How to Make the Best Italian-Style Grilled Corn

There is nothing better than sitting outside with your family and friends, sharing a bottle of Chianti, and firing up the grill. Italian grilling is one unique way to roast your food and usually includes a variety of fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or fish, simple seasonings, and olive oil. Italian grilling typically doesn’t involve heavy sauces or marinades, highlighting a food’s natural flavor. It goes way beyond hamburgers and hot dogs—to fresh ingredients and organic tastes!

Italian chefs are purists who specialize in preparing unadorned grilled delicacies with extraordinary robust flavors accomplished by using the simplest of methods: food grilled in Italy is enhanced by the use of herbs placed on or under the food being grilled, a squeeze of lemon juice, a bit of freshly cracked salt and pepper, and the smoky fire. Since heavy sauces are typically avoided in Italian grilled recipes, meats and fish are instead marinated in olive oil, garlic, or other herb-based mixtures before grilling.

Grilled corn isn’t always thought of as Italian, but this recipe provides a tantalizing combination of grilled corn with tastes of fresh basil leaves, minced garlic, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese—proving that Italian grilled corn is simply delicious. Follow the recipe below to make the best grilled Italian corn.

Grilled Italian Corn with Basil Butter

Ingredients

For the basil butter
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup minced fresh basil leaves
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of pepper
1 clove of garlic, minced
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

For the corn
4-6 ears of corn, husks pulled to the side or cut them off
1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat grill for medium-high heat
2. Place the ingredients for the basil butter in the bowl and whisk gently with a fork
3. Brush the corn with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper
4. Grill for about 10-15 minutes, turning frequently until corn is charred and tender
5. Brush basil butter on each corn cob
6. Sprinkle grated Parmesan on each corn cob
7. Garnish with minced fresh basil
8. Serve with more basil butter, salt and pepper

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