Description
Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elote, is a flavorful and creamy grilled corn dish that features charred corn slathered with a tangy mayo and sour cream mixture, sprinkled with crumbly cotija cheese, chili powder, and fresh cilantro. This classic Mexican side dish is perfect for summer barbecues and easy to prepare in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Corn
- 4 ears of fresh corn, husked
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
For the Sauce and Toppings
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- Extra lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the Grill: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the corn.
- Prepare the Corn: Brush the husked ears of corn with vegetable oil or melted butter to coat them evenly, which will help create a nice char and keep the corn juicy.
- Grill the Corn: Place the corn on the grill and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure it chars evenly on all sides and becomes tender.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: While the corn cooks, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, and half of the cotija cheese together in a small bowl until smooth and combined.
- Slather the Corn: Once the corn is grilled and hot, remove it from the grill and immediately spread the creamy sauce mixture all over each ear to coat it thoroughly.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining cotija cheese evenly over the sauced corn, then dust with chili powder and smoked paprika (if using) for a smoky heat.
- Garnish and Serve: Top the corn with fresh chopped cilantro, and serve with extra lime wedges on the side for squeezing. Enjoy while warm.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add cayenne pepper or drizzle hot sauce on the corn.
- You can cut the grilled corn off the cob and mix all ingredients together for a delicious Mexican street corn salad called esquites.
- Substitute cotija cheese with feta if cotija is unavailable.
- Brush with butter instead of vegetable oil for a richer flavor.
