Description
This Mexican Street Corn Delight offers a taste of Mexico’s vibrant street food with sweet corn, creamy sauce, tangy lime, and smoky spices. Perfect for summer meals, barbecues, or quick side dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 ears of fresh corn, husked
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Mexican crema or sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (from about ½ lime)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled (can substitute feta or parmesan)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Extra chili powder for sprinkling
Instructions
- Husk the corn and remove silk. For grilling, keep ears whole. For boiling, cut them in half for easier handling.
- Brush corn with vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt. Cook by grilling (10–12 minutes), boiling (5–7 minutes), or broiling (2–3 minutes per side) until lightly charred or tender.
- In a bowl, whisk together Mexican crema, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper until smooth.
- For traditional elote: Brush cooked corn with the sauce, then sprinkle with crumbled cotija, extra chili powder, and chopped cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
- For esquites (off-the-cob style): Cut kernels off the cob, mix with the sauce, stir in most of the cheese and cilantro, and garnish with the rest. Serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- Use fresh, in-season corn for the best flavor and sweetness.
- Avoid overcooking the corn to maintain a juicy texture.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Serve alongside grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp to turn this side into a meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear of corn with toppings
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: mexican street corn, elote, summer side dish, grilled corn, street food recipe