Sports Illustrated’s Best Kept Secret: Hot, Cheesy Corn Dip
“You are not cooking from a Sports Illustrated recipe.”
Busted. The crinkled and yellowing page stuck on the fridge for reference wasn’t from Gourmet or Saveur, nor even a printout from Epicurious, but an Emeril Lagasse story on his Super Bowl prep after the New Orleans Saints’ 2006 comeback run.
Hey, when you live with a sports nut, these unexpected rarities find their way onto your desk. And they must be tested to see what kind of goodies make the grade for a mention in SI.
Judging from the number of times I’ve made this hot, cheesy corn dip over the years, I’d say Emeril knows his clientele very well. My Super Bowl menus don’t see many repeats from year to year (unless the Steelers are playing for the title, and then you know I’m making Primanti’s sandwiches), but this dip manages to get itself on the buffet table time and again.
Like French onion, seven-layer, artichoke spinach, and buttermilk blue cheese, Emeril’s creamy, gooey, vegetable-studded mess should be on the short list for nomination into the Party Dip Hall of Fame.
The sneaky corn dip even worms its way into parties that have nothing to do with sporting events and gatherings where there’s nary a guy in sight; I was caught with the SI page on my fridge when prepping the dip for a girls-only Love Actually viewing the week before Christmas, and we ladies scraped that casserole dish clean. (Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, and cheesy corn dip–that’s a satisfying evening.)
The original recipe was fantastic for serving a crowd, but a little heavy on the stomach for anyone who’s not a linebacker. My version is much more veggie-studded, a little less mayonnaisey, and a little more appropriate for Northerners. Pssst, Emeril, the Super Bowl is played in the middle of winter. Though I love fresh corn as much as the next farm-to-tabler, maybe frozen corn is the better bet for football season?
Insert your clichéd football metaphor here: hot, cheesy corn dip is a touchdown, a blitz, a soaring spiral into the end zone. It’s the party MVP, an All-Star. Excessive celebration may occur. Give this thing a trophy.
Hot and Cheesy Corn Dip
A hot, cheesy corn dip with lots of vegetables and a hint of jalapeno heat makes a perfect appetizer for the Super Bowl or any large party.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil, divided
- 1 16-ounce bag frozen corn, thawed
- 1 sweet onion or yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed, de-seeded, and minced
- 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 8-ounce block Cheddar or Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (8 ounces; 227 grams) plain Greek yogurt, any fat percentage
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces; 113 grams) mayonnaise
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast iron skillet or sauté pan over medium heat.
- Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels are picking up spots of toasted color and begin to "pop" as they roast in the pan. (Note: if you didn't thaw your corn in advance, because hey, life happens, this step will take longer. But your corn will still get to its toasty state.)
- Transfer the corn to a large mixing bowl.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet. Add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, green onions, and garlic.
- Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Add the cooked vegetables to the corn and mix in the black pepper, shredded cheese, yogurt, and mayonnaise. Add a few more sprinkles of salt if necessary.
- With a spatula, spread the dip in a large, shallow casserole dish. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the dip is fully heated through and bubbling around the edges.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips, toasted baguette slices, or crudité.
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Casey Barber
Casey Barber is the owner and founder of Good Food Stories LLC and a visual storyteller whose work often focuses on the intersection of food and culture. She is also the author of the cookbooks Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food and Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats, and she couldn’t get anything done without the help of her executive assistant cats, Bixby and Lenny. Her favorite color is obviously orange.
Che il cibo sembra molto bravo in questo non vi rendera magro
Sounds great. Perfect with a cold one.
I printed it out AND I have plans to go to a Superbowl party this Sunday, so I’m going to offer to make it. Or maybe I won’t offer, I’ll just show up with it.
Sarah, who could say no to hot corn dip? Even I, who won’t let people bring ANYTHING to my dinner parties, can’t resist this one.
Non fa ingrassare perché scomparirà rapidamente
Well I for one think this sounds great, Sports Illustrated or not! :-)
Hugh, Colin, and a creamy, cheesy, corny veggie-studded, mess. Sounds like you know just how to hunker down.
There’s really only one word that suffices here. Nom.
Oh man. Good thing the Super Bowl was yesterday and I don’t really have an excuse to make dip THIS MINUTE. Looks fantabulous!
Wait a minute–no suggestion of dipping with fritos? I gotta bookmark this. I’d be tempted to throw in a jar of green chiles too.
MyKidsEatSquid, I think Fritos would be awesome with this – but you better get the Scoops version! And I am SO adding green chiles to the mix next time around. (Nothing like more spice!)
Man, you have some of the best recipes on here! I’m getting back into cooking here and there (hubby does most of it, but I’ve missed it so am going back to it as time allows). I am putting this on the list.
I can see why this is popular – it sounds really tasty, hearty, unique but still familiar – just enough. I’ve bookmarked for future reference!
this does sound great, and fun to make as well as eat — and I’ll second MKES on the green chiles!