ELOTES – MEXICAN STREET CORN
It’s almost Cinco de Mayo (AKA drink margaritas all day, day) and we’re going to be seeing lots of themed parties over the weekend. So, in honor of all the things we’re celebrating, the beautiful weather, the coming of summer and finally breaking out the grill: I’m sharing a fabulous recipe for Mexican street corn, also called “Elotes”.
Elotes are a popular Mexican street food that’s so easy to make at home. If you’ve ever been to Mexico you’re probably familiar with street vendors selling this delicious grilled sweet corn slathered in a tangy creamy cheese sauce with chili and lime. Divine!
I’m sure there are a million different ways to make Mexican street corn. I’m not claiming that my recipe is 100% authentic. I do however claim that it is 100% delicious.
You’ll need to bust out the grill for this recipe as elotes are always grilled. Isn’t it amazing what grilling does to corn? As the sugars caramelize the corn tastes even sweeter with that beautiful hint of smoke.
Since you’re heating up the grill, check out these Bacon on the BBQ recipes – Bacon on the barbecue? Yes, please!
The authentic Mexican ingredients can be purchased in the ethnic areas of the grocery store or at Carnicerias or you can use the common substitutions shown.
ELOTES – MEXICAN STREET CORN
Serves: 4 to 6 Time: 30 minutes
What You’ll Need:
- 6 ears corn – on the cob
- ¼ cup Mexican crema – or sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup cotija cheese, crumbled – divided – or feta or parmesan
- 2 tablespoons cilantro – minced – divided
- 2 limes
- ½ teaspoon chili powder – plus more for dusting
- Cayenne pepper – optional
Here’s How:
- Remove the husk and silk from the corn. As an attractive option; tie the still attached husk with twine to make a handle. Soak the corn in water for 20 minutes.
- Preheat a clean, oiled grill to medium heat. Grill the corn for no more than 10 minutes, rotating every 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine mayo, crema, ½ cup cotija cheese, 1 tablespoon cilantro, chili powder and juice and zest of half a lime. Place the remainder of the cheese on a plate.
- Remove corn from the grill.
- Evenly coat corn in the cheese sauce then roll in remainder of the cheese on the plate. Drizzle with remaining sauce and sprinkle more cilantro and dust with chili powder. Oooooh! Pretty! Add some cayenne if you like it spicy. Do eeeet! Squeeze the other half lime over everything. Serve with extra lime quarters. You can adjust the ingredients to taste, more lime or no cilantro. It’s all good.
This method of preparing corn is so addictive I plan for 2 ears of corn per person. To make this more kid friendly and easier to eat you can cut the corn in half and stick it on heavy wooden skewers. This also helps roll the corn in the cheese.
For budget entertaining, make this the bulk of your celebration meal. This way you can splurge on a smaller amount of a more expensive treat, like shrimp or good steak for tacos.
However you celebrate – Fiesta like there’s no mañana!
ELOTES - MEXICAN STREET CORN
Equipment
- Grill
- Stock Pot
Ingredients
- 6 ears corn
- ¼ cup Mexican crema or sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup cotija cheese crumbled, divided-or feta, or parmesan
- 2 tablespoon cilantro minced, divided
- 2 limes
- ½ teaspoon chili powder plus more for dusting
- cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Remove the husk and silk from the corn. As an attractive option; tie the still attached husk with twine to make a handle.
- In a big stock pot or sink full of water, soak the corn for 20 minutes .
- Preheat a clean, oiled grill to medium heat.
- Grill the corn for no more than 10 minutes, rotating every 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine mayo, crema, ½ cup cotija cheese, 1tablespoon cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, the juice and zest of half a lime. Place the remainder of the cheese on a plate.
- Remove the corn from the grill.
- Evenly coat corn in the cheese sauce then roll in remainder of the cheese on the plate.
- Drizzle with remaining sauce and sprinkle more cilantro and dust with chili powder. Oooooh! Pretty!
- Add some cayenne if you like it spicy. Do eeeet!
- Squeeze the other half of the lime over everything. Serve with extra lime quarters.
- You can adjust the ingredients to taste, more lime or no cilantro. It’s all good.
You may also like: One Ingredient Dulce de Leche Cheese Enchiladas with Homemade Red Sauce
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