A vegetarian alternative to pork ribs, these oven-baked sweetcorn ribs served with chipotle butter are a great side dish or starter everyone will love.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Using a sharp, heavy knife, cut each sweetcorn cob in half widthways to create shorter pieces.
Stand each piece upright on the thicker end and carefully cut it in half lengthways through the centre, applying firm, steady pressure and keeping your fingers well clear.
Lay the cut sides flat on a chopping board and score a line down the centre of the core
Stand each piece upright again and cut along the scored line to divide each cob into quarters.
In a bowl, mix the olive oil with the smoked paprika and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Arrange the sweetcorn ribs in a single layer on the baking tray, leaving space between each piece.
Brush the ribs all over with the seasoned oil.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for 30–40 minutes, until the ribs curl slightly and become crisp around the edges.
While the corn is baking, allow the butter to soften at room temperature or gently soften it in the microwave.
Finely grate the Parmesan and lime zest.
Mix the softened butter with the chipotle paste, lime zest, and grated Parmesan until fully combined.
Once the sweetcorn ribs are cooked, brush them with the chipotle butter while hot, or serve the butter on the side.
Serve the sweetcorn ribs hot for best results.
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Recipe Notes
Use a really sharp, heavy knife to cut the ribs.
Cooking times can vary depending on your oven.
You can also cook the corn ribs in an air fryer, shallow fry them or even cook them on the barbeque. Cooking times will vary depending on the method you use.
The chipotle butter can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.