Közde mısır is a popular Turkish street delicacy that represents nothing more complex than a corn cob roasted directly on hot coals. In the flood of complex kebabs and sweet baklavas, this dish seems almost primitively simple, yet it is an integral part of the local color of Turkish cities.
It is not a side dish that you would get with meat on a plate in a restaurant, but a pure “grab-and-go” food. At first glance, it catches your eye with its appearance – the grains are deep yellow in places, caramelized to brown in others, and charred to black at the tips.
The Turkish name is very literal. The word “köz” refers to embers or hot coals, and “mısır” means corn (interestingly, the same word in Turkish also refers to Egypt, from where corn was historically imported). The popularity of this delicacy lies in its availability and price. You can find red carts with the sign “Közde mısır” in Istanbul on every corner – from the Bosphorus waterfront to the bustling Taksim Square. It is food of the people, which a manager in a suit buys on his way from work just as a schoolboy does.
Preparation takes place right before the customer’s eyes on small mobile carts. The vendor first pulls the green husks downwards, creating a natural handle, or removes them completely. The exposed cob is placed on a metal grid directly above glowing coals. The corn must be constantly turned so that it roasts evenly and does not burn to a crisp. During roasting, water evaporates from the grains, sugars on the surface caramelize, and the corn acquires a deeper color. It is a process that concentrates the flavor, unlike boiling in water, which tends to dilute it.
Serving is simple. The vendor takes the hot cob and wraps it in a piece of paper so the customer does not burn their fingers. This is followed by sprinkling with salt from a large shaker – you can often determine the amount yourself. It is eaten exclusively with hands, standing up or while walking. The taste is intensely smoky, salty, and sweet at the same time.
I tasted közde mısır in Istanbul at a stand right by the Eminönü pier, where the smell of roasted corn mixes with the salty air from the Bosphorus and the cry of seagulls. It was the ideal snack while waiting for the ferry to the Asian side. One grilled corn cost 12 TRY (0.60 EUR).
Bon appétit!
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