Grilled Mexican Street Corn is i of the ultimate summer side dishes! This homemade version is just as proficient as the elote corn you’ll observe from the vendors inward United Mexican States. When served at parties too cookouts it will live the first affair to become!
What is an Elote?
Elotes, besides known equally grilled Elote Mexicano, Mexican street corn, or Mexican grilled corn, is a popular Mexican street nutrient. “Elote” agency “corn on the cob” inward Spanish, as well as the recipe consists of corn on the cob that has been grilled as well as slathered with a mayo or crema sauce, topped with Cotija cheese, together with dusted amongst chili pulverization.
In Mexico, it is sold to locals as well as tourists from street carts much similar pretzels or hot dogs inwards New York. Once you lot try elotes for the kickoff time you’ll be wondering “Where has this been all my life?!”
It’s perfectly juicy in addition to crisp, it has a delicious residual of sugariness too spicy estrus, the creamy coating amongst a goose egg of lime as well as chili pulverization perfectly compliments it’second mellow season, together with the cheese finish makes it amazingly crave-worthy.
This is a side dish y'all do not desire to missy out on! I’d dare enjoin it’s a summertime staple together with should regularly be added to the dinner rotation.
What’second the Difference Between Esquites together with Elote?
You’ll detect that esquites feature the same grilled corn together with creamy, spicy topping as Mexican grilled corn. However, instead of beingness served on a stick or eaten directly from the cob, esquites are served inward a bowl. As a upshot, the dish is sometimes referred to every bit corn salad.
Grilled Mexican Street Corn Ingredients and Substitutes
- Yellow corn: White corn will run here if that’second all you lot accept, just I recommend yellow corn for a prettier color and sweeter gustation.
- Mayonnaise: Use adept character mayonnaise such every bit Hellman’sec or Best Foods for the best flavor. Given that we use a fair sum, it actually does make a deviation!
- Mexican crema: A creamy, lightly tangy condiment. To substitute endeavour sour cream.
- Lime zest as well as lime juice: I recommend zesting your limes before juicing them to make the procedure easy.
- Garlic: Whole, fresh cloves go best.
- Seasonings: Chili pulverisation, cayenne pepper, table salt, too pepper add together a touch of estrus that pairs wonderfully amongst the mayo coating.
- Cotija cheese: This is a tangy Mexican cheese used inward a diverseness of dishes. If y'all tin can’t detect it, feta or Parmesan cheese tin be substituted.
- Fresh cilantro: I recommend that yous chop it very finely for this recipe.
- Hot sauce: This is optional merely highly recommended. I similar to role a vibrant Mexican hot sauce such every bit Valentino or Tapatio, simply whatsoever variety you lot similar best tin live substituted.
Tips for Picking Fresh Sweet Corn
- Check the husk: It should be dainty and brilliant green too never dry. You’ll discover that the best corn has leaves that are soft, pliable, together with near look a piffling wet.
- Notice the condition of silks/tassels: Those sparse strings at the peak of the corn should live gilt or light brown too sticky, not dark. And they should expect fresh, not wilted or dry out.
- Examine the corn: Peel dorsum the husk a scrap, the cob should live filled to the height alongside corn kernels that are total, plump, in addition to gilded xanthous throughout.
- Watch out for insects: Obviously, if y'all encounter a row of corn that’s been nibbled on, let’second avoid that 1.
- Smell the corn: The best corn volition take a sugariness olfactory property together with will live house alongside simply a slight pass on when squeezed.
How to Make Elotes Grilled Mexican Street Corn
- Preheat the grill: Heat the grill to medium-high oestrus betwixt 450 in addition to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the coating: In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the mayo topping until polish. Add more table salt together with pepper equally needed to suit your preferences.
- Grill the corn: Place the shucked corn cobs on the grill, leaving infinite between them. Grill until the corn is charred on all sides, rotating the cobs every 3 minutes about.
- Coat the grilled corn: Use a basting brush to generously coat each corn cob alongside the mayonnaise mixture. Sprinkle Cotija cheese in addition to chili pulverisation on summit. Finish alongside chopped cilantro as well as Mexican hot sauce. Repeat until all the corn has been covered, together with savour!
Grilling Tips
- Optionally if yous want to go higher up too beyond to prevent corn from drying out, brush a fleck of petroleum over the corn before placing it on the grill. Or, submerge the cobs inwards a large bowl of common salt H2O for ten-xv minutes before grilling. This will help keep the kernels juicy and plump.
- Check for doneness. You’ll know your corn is done cooking when it is charred (not burned) on all sides as well as is tender when poked with a fork or knife.
- Keep the grill shut. Try to continue the grill comprehend shut equally much equally possible piece your corn is cooking. This volition permit for a more than consistent temperature together with fifty-fifty cooking.
Can I Make Grilled Mexican Street Corn without a Grill?
Yes, if yous don’t accept a grill or the conditions isn’t ideal for grilling, you tin roast or boil the corn instead.
Oven Option
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray the corn cobs alongside cooking spray, or coat them alongside crude oil as well as butter.
- Wrap them tightly with aluminum foil.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes or until the kernels are tender.
Boiling Option
- Bring a big pot of H2O to a boil on the stove.
- Carefully, submerge the corn, in addition to cook for iii-5 minutes or until tender, turning or stirring occasionally.
- Drain the water.
Tips for the Best Grilled Mexican Corn
- Sprinkle the Cotija over the cobs rather than rolling them on summit, if you lot want a lighter coating.
- Add the chili pulverisation to taste. Some people like to function a lot, patch others prefer simply a few dashes.
- Start with great corn, as well as purpose good lineament mayo. You really tin can gustation the difference!
Serving Suggestions
I like to relish this homemade elotes recipe equally a snack, merely like I did when I visited Mexico! However, it tin likewise be served equally a side dish with all your favorite master courses such as:
How to Store
- For best results yous should store the corn and coating separately if yous plan to serve alongside a fresh prepared expect.
- Reheat the corn so slather the topping over the corn then add cheese together with garnishes.
- Another choice with prepared leftovers is to cutting the mayo in addition to cheese coated kernels from the cobs as well as toss together inward a bowl (like an Esquites corn salad) together with store inward the fridge.
Refrigerator
- Allow the corn to cool completely.
- Wrap it tightly with foil, or transfer it to an airtight container.
- Store the cobs inwards the fridge for upwards to 2-iii days.
- The mayo coating tin can be stored inward a assort container for up to one week.
Freezer
- Store the grilled corn inward an airtight container in the freezer for upwardly to x months.
- Note that the mayonnaise coating does non freeze well because of the dairy, it would likely sort upon thawing.
- Allow the corn cobs to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and warm them on the grill earlier serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I purpose a mayo substitute?
If yous don’t take mayo on manus or y'all’re opposed to using it, Mexican crema, sour cream, or Veganaise would be adept substitutes. You don’t desire to get rid of the creamy mayo ingredient altogether, though. That’sec what makes grilled Mexican street corn so practiced!
Can I role Miracle Whip?
I know many people accept a stiff preference for using mayonnaise or Miracle Whip inward sure dishes like pasta salad. But this Mexican grilled corn with mayo is best with, good, existent mayo! Miracle Whip is as well sugariness in addition to will change the flavor of this elote corn recipe.
Do I grill the corn amongst the husks on or off?
I prefer to grill the corn shucked because it makes it easier to enjoin when it’second done cooking as well as is fix to slather and savour. Plus, the grill marks make it wait extra appetizing. However, if you lot prefer, you lot can get out the husks on spell grilling. I recommend wrapping them with aluminum foil if yous make.
More Mexican Side Dishes You’ll Love:
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Authentic Mexican Rice
- Fresh Homemade Salsa
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
Elotes Grilled Mexican Street Corn
Ingredients
- vii ears yellow corn, shucked
- ane/ii cup mayonnaise
- i/three cup Mexican crema
- one tsp lime zest
- i one/two Tbsp lime juice
- iii/four tsp finely mincced garlic
- ane/two tsp chili pulverization, plus more than for topping
- one/eight tsp cayenne pepper
- three/4 cup finely crumbled Cotija cheese
- Salt together with dark pepper
- three Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
- Mexican hot sauce, such every bit Valentino or Tapatio
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium-high rut (to virtually 450 to 475 degrees F).
- Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl whisk stir together mayonnaise, Mexican crema, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, chili pulverization as well as cayenne pepper. Season lightly with table salt as well as pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Once grill is preheated, place corn on grill, leaving space betwixt them. Let grill until charred on all sides, turning every three minutes, virtually ix minutes full.
- Working alongside one cob of corn at a fourth dimension, using a basting brush, brush all sides generously alongside the mayonnaise mixture so sprinkle amongst cotija too chili pulverization. Finish amongst cilantro too/or Mexican hot sauce.
- Transfer to a serving platter or baking canvas together with repeat amongst remaining corn.
Notes
- Add chili pulverization to taste. Some people similar a lot, piece others like just a few dashes.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 277
Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Recipe updated July 10, 2023