Description
This Mexican street corn (elote) recipe, served off the cob, offers a vibrant, creamy, and smoky flavor profile with minimal effort, making it a perfect quick and easy side dish for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt for a lighter option)
- 0.5 cup sour cream (or Mexican crema)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon ancho chili powder
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup smoked Oaxaca cheese, grated (made with microbial rennet)
- 0.5 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled (feta cheese is a good stand-in, made with microbial rennet)
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Char Corn: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 5 cups corn; cook 7-10 minutes until deeply charred and fragrant.
- Whisk Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, smoked paprika, ancho chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and pale orange.
- Combine and Swirl: Pour sauce over warm corn, stir gently. Add 1 cup grated smoked Oaxaca cheese; stir 1-2 minutes until it melts into luscious, gooey ribbons.
- Serve: Scoop into warm bowls. Garnish with 0.5 cup Cotija, extra ancho chili powder, and 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro for vibrant color.
Notes
For lighter options, use vegan mayo or Greek yogurt. To make it a high-protein meal, add grilled chicken or black beans. Adjust sauce thickness with a splash of lime juice or cook corn longer if watery.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200 g)
- Calories: 350 calories
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: mexican street corn, off the cob, elote, side dish, creamy, smoky, quick, easy, Oaxaca cheese, Cotija cheese