Name: Cacio e Pepe air fryer corn ribs recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Ingredients: 3 sweetcorn (trimmed); 1/2 cup Kerrygold butter (divided at room temperature ); 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (divided); 3 Tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra to sprinkle); 3 Tbsp freshly grated Pecorino Romano (plus extra to sprinkle

I wanted to capture the essence of the famous Roman pasta sauce ‘Cacio e Pepe‘ with these air fryer corn ribs. The simple combination of butter, black pepper, Pecorino, and Parmesan cheese is irresistible. Slathered onto air-fried corn ribs, they make a perfect snack, small plate, or side dish.

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Cutting sweetcorn into corn ribs is a bit of a chore, and you need to be very careful. You could opt to add the flavoured butter to whole corn if you prefer.

However, the eating experience of corn ribs is somehow more enjoyable than whole corn on the cob, so for me, it’s worth the extra effort.

Cooking corn ribs in an air fryer is such a breeze, and I would buy an air fryer simply to cook vegetables. I love the ease and convenience of it.

Hallf a sweetcorn cut in half for corn ribs

With corn on the cob or corn ribs, you want to get a few golden, slightly charred bits, and the air fryer delivers. I have given instructions on how to cook corn ribs and whole corn, so you can choose.

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook your corn on the cob or corn ribs in boiling water or on a grill instead. Just skip the first butter basting.

A plate with cacio e pepe whole corn on the cob cooked in the air fryer

How do you make corn ribs in an air fryer?

Corn ribs are difficult to cut, so microwaving them for one minute per corn will soften the cob, making it easier to cut.

Brush each corn rib lightly with the first melted butter and black pepper mix.

Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.

Once the Air fryer has reached temperature, place the corn ribs in the basket with the cob facing downwards, allowing some space in between each. Do not overcrowd the basket. If necessary and if you have a small round air fryer, do these batches.

Cook for 8 minutes. I don’t find it necessary to turn them over since they’re already lying on their side.

To cook whole corn on the cob in an air fryer, cook for 12 minutes.

I found this YouTube video useful for a technique to cut corn into ribs.

Butter-basted Cacio e Pepe corn ribs are my latest obsession. I thought up the recipe a while ago and am excited to bring it to life here finally.

An air fryer basket filled with corn ribs for cacio e pepe recipe

Cacio e Pepe means ‘pepper & cheese’, and when making this pasta sauce, butter is also added to create a silky texture. It is one of the simplest sauces to make and pairs so perfectly with corn.

As butter is such an important component of this very simple dish, you want to use the best. I used Kerrygold salted butter, which is such a creamy butter. Made from the milk of grass-fed cows that roam around verdant Irish pastures, it’s so delicious.

As with Cacio e Pepe pasta, you will want to use a combination of Parmesan Reggiano and Pecorino Romano. The latter has a distinctive sheep’s milk flavour that is integral to the dish. You can of course use all or one of the other, but I like the combination of 50-50 of each.

Mix the black pepper with the two kinds of cheese and butter to form a soft paste, which you will slather very generously onto your air-fried corn ribs.

A bowl of butter, black pepper and grated cheese for caio e pepe air fryer corn ribs recipe

This recipe is for three sweetcorn cut into corn ribs, which will fit into a larger square air fryer basket. I have the Instant Vortex Air Fryer. If you have a smaller air fryer basket, you may need to adjust the quantity and cook in batches.

Prep Time:5

Cook Time:8

Ingredients

3 sweetcorn trimmed
1/2 cup Kerrygold butter divided at room temperature
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper divided
3 Tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese plus extra to sprinkle
3 Tbsp freshly grated Pecorino Romano (plus extra to sprinkle

Instructions

Strip the sweetcorn of any outer leaves and trim on both ends.
Microwave the corn for 1 minute to soften slightly to make it easier to cut. Remove and allow to cool enough to handle.
Using a very sharp and solid knife, carefully slice the sweetcorn in half lengthways. Cut Each half in half to make a total of 4 quarters or corn ribs.
Repeat with the remaining 2 sweetcorn.
Melt ¼ cup (half) of the butter in the microwave and add ½ tsp black pepper. Brush each corn rib with the butter. If there is any leftover butter you can keep it to add more at the end.
Preheat the Air fryer to 200C/400F. Once heated, place the corn ribs rib side down in the basket and cook for 8 minutes until starting to char around the edges.
Whilst the corn ribs are cooking, mix the remaining ¼ cup of Kerrygold butter with ½ teaspoon of black pepper and the cheese to form a paste. Soften the butter slightly if needs be.
Spread the butter & cheese paste generously over the corn ribs and serve immediately with any of the leftover butter on the side.
Sprinkle a little grated Pecorino and Parmesan over the cooked corn ribs.