Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Mexican street corn — grilled and charred, slathered in creamy lime mayo, and covered in cotija cheese and chili powder.

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 10 mins Serves: 4 Difficulty: easy
Mexican-Latin Vegetarian Side Dish, Appetizer

Required Spices

  • ½ teaspoon chili powder (ancho or guajillo)
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • salt to taste

Other Ingredients

  • 4 ears fresh corn, husked
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Mexican crema or sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
  • ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
  • lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat grill to medium-high heat. Place corn directly on grates and grill for 10 minutes, rotating every few minutes until charred in spots and cooked through.
  2. While corn grills, mix mayonnaise, Mexican crema, lime juice, and garlic powder in a small bowl until smooth.
  3. In a separate small bowl, combine crumbled cotija cheese with chopped cilantro.
  4. Transfer hot corn to a platter. Squeeze fresh lime juice over each ear while still warm.
  5. Brush or spread the mayo mixture generously over each ear of corn, coating all sides.
  6. Sprinkle the cotija-cilantro mixture over the corn, turning to coat evenly. Some will fall off—that's normal.
  7. Dust with chili powder and smoked paprika. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

Tips

For easier eating, insert a wooden skewer or corn holder into each end. No grill? Char the corn in a dry cast iron skillet or under the broiler. Mexican crema is thinner than sour cream—if using sour cream, use slightly less. Cotija cheese is salty, so taste before adding extra salt. For esquites (corn in a cup), cut kernels off the cob and toss with the toppings.

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Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 10 mins | Serves: 4 $29.96

Required Spices

Ancho Chili Powder
Ancho Chili Powder
Guajillo Chili Powder
Guajillo Chili Powder
Cayenne Pepper, Mild
Cayenne Pepper, Mild
Paprika, Smoked
Paprika, Smoked

Pantry Spices

Sea Salt, Fine
Sea Salt, Fine
Garlic, Powder
Garlic, Powder
Cilantro
Cilantro