Barbecued sweetcorn ribs with plantain hummus

Sweetcorn is a must for a summer barbecue. Sweetcorn ribs have the wow factor and are easy to eat. The dips add flavour and colour, and can be prepared (or bought) in advance. Fingerlicious.

Ingredients

• 8 corn on the cobs
• olive oil, for coating
• butter, for basting

For the spice seasoning

• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tbsp ground cumin

For the plantain hummus

• 3 ripe plantains
• 3 tbsp dark tahini
• ½ x 400g tin chickpeas, drained
• ½–1 roasted Scotch bonnet chilli (see Tip), seeds removed
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1–2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• roasted cashew nuts (optional)

To serve

• spicy tomato salsa
• avocado mashed with mayo and pesto, topped with Parmesan shavings

Method

1. Light the barbecue. Allow the flames to flare up and die down, then wait until the coals are glowing and starting to turn white.

2. To make the plaintain hummus, roast the plantains on the barbecue over a medium–high heat, turning regularly, for about 15 minutes until they are blackened and the skin splits. Alternatively, you can do this in an oven preheated to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

3. Scoop the flesh out of the skins into a food processor. Add the tahini, chickpeas, Scotch bonnet flesh (to taste), garlic, salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and a splash of cold water and blend until smooth. Add a little more oil to get the consistency you like. Transfer to a serving bowl. Alternatively you can make the hummus in a large pestle and mortar.

4. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the corn cobs and boil for 2 minutes. Drain and leave to cool.

5. Using a large sharp knife, carefully cut the cobs in half lengthways, cutting between the grains of corn. Then cut each half lengthways again, to make four ‘ribs’ from each cob.

6. Mix together the ingredients for the spice seasoning.

7. Coat the sweetcorn ribs in olive oil, then sprinkle over the spice seasoning.

8. Put the ribs on the barbecue and cook for about 10 minutes, turning and basting with butter, until golden and charred.

9. To serve, assemble the sweetcorn ribs, plantain hummus, tomato salsa and mashed avocado on a large platter. If you like, you can sprinkle some cashew nuts over the plantain hummus.

Barbecued sweetcorn ribs with plantain hummus