Ashok Sharma
Who does not like the taste and flavour of the corn or bhutta or makai grilled and sold on the roadside, bus stands and outside the railway stations.It is generally called vegetable corn and is obtained from a large plant (Zea mays) believed to have been originated in Mexico and Central America and then spread to other countries.
The leafy stalk of the plant produces ears which contain the grains called kernel.For every kernel on the cob, there is a strand of silk.The white and yellow kernels are quite popular but these days corn is available in other colours such as purple, brown, blue etc. The corn, especially obtained from the maize plants growing in hilly areas, is known for its pleasant taste and quality as it is sown earlier than those sown in the plains and it ripes later than the summer varieties.It is generally available in our state in the August to October but in these days of cold storage, it is available for most time of the year.The corn vendors are seen selling roasted/grilled corns on the roadside, railway stations, bus stands etc.They remove husk from the cob and grill the kernel on the dry charcoal. Occassionally,the corn is turned to ensure that the whole kernel on the cob or all the grains are cooked.When fully grilled, it is sold to the customers at a cheap price usually at Rs10 per cob.The vendors use their bare hands to pick up the scorching cob from the burning coals and apply a seasoning mixture of salt, lime/butter, chillies/pepper etc.It is then placed in the husk to make it easy to hold and eat and then served hot to the customers who relish it for its flavour. The corn is also be grilled in the microwave oven at home with or off the husk. It can be served to the guests after applying salt, pepper, mint, lime etc. For this purpose, it is necessary that, fresh ears having green husk are brought and grilled in the oven.Sometimes, the kernels extracted from the cob are fried in oil and then relished with besan’sevians’or salad.They can ,then,be served to the guests.
The corn is rich in dietry fibres, low in fat and source of essential nutrients.It helps in preventing constipation and intestinal problems by promoting soft and bulky stools which can move smoothly in the intestines.The corn is also useful in gaining wait and preventing hypertension.The corn also contains minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus needed for strong connective tissue and bones.The antioxidants present in the corn help in preventing cancer by eliminating cancer causing radicals.As it is a rich source of folic acid, it is beneficial for pregnant women.It is also beneficial for heart and helps in preventing Alzeheimer’s disease,maintains healthy skin and combats hair loss.It has a high amount of starch which provides short term and long term energy.Being rich in iron, corn can be eaten to prevent anaemia.The corn flour, especially obtained from ‘gharats’ is also used for making cakes which are eaten with curd, lassi or mustard saag.Many hotels prominently display ‘Sarson ka saag aur maki ki roti’ in their menu. This dish is also served in various functions such as marriages, mundans, retirement parties etc. As the fresh corn is easily available in this season, people ought to relish it themselves or serve to their guests in any way they like .We also ought to help the corn sellers who believe in earning their living by doing hardwork of selling the grilled corns.Some of them are girls who are seen helping their mothers or brothers roasting/grilling corns attached to the cobs.They need to be encouraged and appreciated as they earn their livelihood by working hard and not by easy means such as begging or illegal means. So,if you need a quick bite to give you energy, vigour and taste, just go to the corn venror and ask him to grill a corn for you.A freshly grilled ear offers incredible sweetness and plenty of nutritional benefits.But at the same time, be a ware that taking excess of it can make you ill.Moreover, some people are allergic to corn and the allergy symptoms include diarrhoea, vomitting, asthma etc.
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