Chinese Corn Recipe: Best Spicy Corn Fry
You might have eaten corn grilled or in soups. Did you ever eat salt and pepper corn? It is a tongue-tingling item that is great as a snack. Making this traditional recipe is also easy. So, why don’t you try it out today?
I brought the authentic Chinese corn recipe that is deep-fried and then seasoned with a few ingredients. It turns out so good that you will end up licking your fingers. Let’s dive into the detailed recipe and learn how to make this delicious corn.
Table of Contents
Chinese Corn Recipe Overview
You will love the salty and peppery flavor of this fried corn. Check the recipe overview before going into more detail.
| Cuisine: Chinese | Difficulty: Easy | ||
| Total Time: 20 minutes | |||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories |
| 1 person | 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 285 kcal |
Ingredients Needed for Chinese Corn
The ingredients list is pretty small and everything is easy to assemble. I use the following ingredients for this recipe.
Main Ingredients for Chinese Corn Recipe
- Corn: Two cobs of corn. I am using medium-sized cobs.
- Garlic: 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
- Scallion: 2 stalks of scallion
- Cooking Oil: 500g. Don’t worry, the final dish doesn’t require so much oil.
- Dried Pepper: 4-5 dried peppers, cut into pieces or thin noodles
- Sesame Seed: 1 tsp
Sauces and Seasonings for Chinese Corn Recipe
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Sugar: ½ tsp
- Light Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp
- Barbecue Powder: 1 tsp
After organizing everything you need, let’s move on to the preparation and cooking.
Chinese Corn Recipe: Step-By-Step Instructions
I divided the whole process into smaller steps so that you can follow them easily.
Step 1: Wash and Cut the Corn
Remove the husk from the corn first. Then, wash the corn cobs so that there is no dust on them. Pat the corn cobs with a kitchen towel to remove all the moisture.
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After drying the corn, cut each cob into halves diagonally. Each half of the corn should then be cut into quarters. This way, you can cook the corn faster.
Step 2: Prepare the Aromatics
Peel the garlic cloves and mince them. Then, cut the scallions into julienne. Each piece should be about 2-3 inches long. Cut dried peppers into small pieces or thin noodles.
Step 3: Deep-Fry the Corn
Put 500g of cooking oil into a round-bottom pan or wok. Once the oil gets hot, drop the corn pieces into the oil. Deep-fry the corn for a few minutes. Don’t worry about the oil as corn won’t absorb that much oil.
Once the corn changes color and bends slightly, remove the corn from the pan and rest it on a kitchen towel.
Step 4: Stir-Fry the Corn with the Aromatics and Spices
Place a flat-bottom pan over medium heat and add about 1 tsp of cooking oil to the pan. After about one minute, put the minced garlic in the pan and stir-fry it for one minute.
Once you get the smell of the fried garlic, add the deep-fried corn pieces to the pan. Then, add the dried peppers and continue stir-frying everything.
Step 5: Pour Soy Sauce and Other Seasonings
After about five minutes, drizzle 1 tbsp of soy sauce and sprinkle ½ tsp sugar on top. It will balance the heat from the dried peppers. Also, add the chopped scallions to the pan.
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As soon as the scallions start to become soft, sprinkle about 1 tsp of barbecue powder and mix well.
Step 6: Finish with Sesame Seed
After frying everything for one or two minutes, take them off. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top before serving the salt and peppercorn.
Nutrition Facts of Chinese Corn
As this recipe uses a deep-fried method, it might not be wise to eat a lot of this corn regularly. Here are the nutritional values for your consideration.
- Total Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 3g
- Total Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Total Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Total Sugar: 3g
- Cholesterol: 76mg
- Sodium: 655mg
- Potassium: 537mg
- Calcium: 214mg
- Iron: 2mg
- Vitamin A: 17IU
- Vitamin C: 2.5mg

Chinese Corn Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Remove the husk from the corn first. Then, wash the corn cobs so that there is no dust on them. Pat the corn cobs with a kitchen towel to remove all the moisture.

- After drying the corn, cut each cob into halves diagonally. Each half of the corn should then be cut into quarters. This way, you can cook the corn faster.
- Peel the garlic cloves and mince them. Then, cut the scallions into julienne. Each piece should be about 2-3 inches long. Cut dried peppers into small pieces or thin noodles.

- Put 500g of cooking oil into a round-bottom pan or wok. Once the oil gets hot, drop the corn pieces into the oil. Deep-fry the corn for a few minutes. Don’t worry about the oil as corn won’t absorb that much oil.

- Once the corn changes color and bends slightly, remove the corn from the pan and rest it on a kitchen towel.
- Place a flat-bottom pan over medium heat and add about 1 tsp of cooking oil to the pan. After about one minute, put the minced garlic in the pan and stir-fry it for one minute.

- Once you get the smell of the fried garlic, add the deep-fried corn pieces to the pan. Then, add the dried peppers and continue stir-frying everything.
- After about five minutes, drizzle 1 tbsp of soy sauce and sprinkle ½ tsp sugar on top. It will balance the heat from the dried peppers. Also, add the chopped scallions to the pan.

- As soon as the scallions start to become soft, sprinkle about 1 tsp of barbecue powder and mix well.
- After frying everything for one or two minutes, take them off. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top before serving the salt and peppercorn.

FAQs
The following discussion might be of help if you have any confusion regarding this recipe. Check them out.
Can I use canned corn in this recipe?
Yes. You can use canned corn if it is on the cob. Remember to drain all the moisture and wash the corn before frying them. I recommend using fresh corn for the best flavor and texture.
How do you store Chinese corn?
The best way to store corn is to blanch the whole corn for a few minutes. After cooling the corn, you can keep it in an airtight box and store it in the refrigerator for a few days. If you store corn in the freeze, it will remain well for a few months.
Can I use other vegetables or proteins to enhance the flavor of this recipe?
It is best not to overcrowd this dish if you want to enjoy the authentic salt and peppery taste of this recipe. Adding vegetables or proteins will change the flavor and texture of the dish.
Conclusion
The saltiness and heat create a layer on top of the fried corn that sticks to your palette and gives a lovely spicy taste. The barbecue powder adds a bit of smoky flavor to the corn that takes this Chinese corn recipe to the next level.
Be it a family gathering or a party with friends, you can serve this recipe to amaze everyone. Especially kids love to munch on this fried corn. Adjust the spice level based on whom you will serve it. Enjoy every bite of the corn till the last bit.