Description
Homemade Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elote, is a flavorful grilled corn dish coated with a creamy mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, and cotija cheese, seasoned with lime juice, garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, and fresh cilantro. Perfect as a side dish for summer gatherings or barbecues, this recipe is both vegetarian and gluten-free.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn (husks removed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter (for grilling)
Creamy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese (divided)
Seasonings & Garnishes
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure it’s hot enough for grilling the corn evenly and achieving a good char.
- Prepare Corn for Grilling: Brush each ear of corn thoroughly with olive oil or melted butter. This helps prevent sticking and adds flavor during grilling.
- Grill the Corn: Place the corn directly on the grill grates. Grill for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally to allow all sides to char lightly and cook evenly.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: While the corn is grilling, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, fresh lime juice, and half of the crumbled cotija cheese in a small bowl. Mix well until creamy and smooth.
- Apply Sauce to Corn: Remove the grilled corn from the heat and immediately spread the creamy sauce mixture all over each ear of corn so it sticks well while warm.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining cotija cheese over the coated corn, then dust with chili powder and smoked paprika for spice and color. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
- Serve: Serve the Mexican street corn hot with lime wedges on the side for extra zest and tang. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- To make this dish off the cob, use 3 cups of cooked corn kernels and toss with the creamy sauce and toppings.
- If cotija cheese is unavailable, feta cheese is a good substitute.
- Adjust the amount of chili powder according to your preferred spice level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear of corn
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
