Sweetcorn in September: Simple, Seasonal and Delicious

September is probably my favourite month when it comes to fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables. The hedgerows are bursting, everything feels abundant and, best of all, my all-time favourite vegetable, sweetcorn, is at its peak.

I love corn on the cob. It goes with almost anything, takes hardly any effort to cook and somehow still feels like a bit of a treat. Give me a fresh cob with a little salt and pepper and I’m very happy.

One of the reasons sweetcorn has become such a familiar favourite is its convenience. We can enjoy it fresh when it’s in season, but tins and bags from the freezer make it an easy year-round staple too. It’s become such a standard side vegetable that I think we sometimes forget just how versatile it is, and how central it is to some of the world’s most vibrant cuisines. It works beautifully in everything from salads and salsas to warming dishes like my Smoky Sweetcorn and Black Bean Enchiladas, which make the most of that classic combination of sweetcorn, beans, lime and smoky spices.

Nutritionally, sweetcorn has plenty going for it too. It provides fibre to support healthy digestion and help keep us feeling fuller for longer, as well as carbohydrates for energy. It also contains nutrients including folate and potassium, while its lovely golden-yellow colour comes partly from the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are linked with eye health.

Of course, sweetcorn does have one slight downside: those kernels have an extraordinary ability to get stuck in your teeth and make an unexpected reappearance hours later! Anyone who wears or has worn braces will probably have particularly strong feelings about this!

One of my favourite ways to serve fresh sweetcorn also happens to solve that problem. Simply steam or roast the cob, then slice the kernels straight off onto your plate. Season with a little salt and pepper and add a pinch of chilli if you fancy it. The kernels tend to stay together in lovely little sections, giving you a proper sweet, juicy mouthful without having to wrestle with the cob.

Simple, seasonal and delicious!