Description
Grilled Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elotes, is a flavorful and easy-to-make summer treat featuring charred sweet corn coated with a tangy and creamy sauce made of Mexican crema and mayonnaise, garnished with fresh cilantro, lime, and crumbly cotija cheese. Perfect for backyard grilling parties or a unique side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Corn and Toppings
- 6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- Lime wedges, to serve
Creamy Sauce
- 1/2 cup Mexican crema, or sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup minced cilantro
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons lime zest, from one lime
- 2 tablespoon lime juice, from one lime
Instructions
- Prepare the Grill: Once the grill is hot, clean the grates thoroughly to prevent sticking and to ensure even cooking.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the Mexican crema, mayonnaise, minced cilantro, garlic, ground chipotle pepper, lime zest, and lime juice until well combined. Taste and season with salt if needed, then set the sauce aside.
- Grill the Corn: Place the husked corn directly onto the hot grill grates. Grill the corn for about 3 minutes without moving it until the kernels start to turn golden brown and develop char marks. Rotate the corn to the next side and repeat until all sides are evenly charred, approximately 10 minutes total.
- Coat with Sauce and Garnish: Remove the grilled corn from the grill and place it on a serving plate. Using a brush or spoon, generously coat each ear with the prepared creamy sauce. Immediately sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese over the coated corn and add extra chipotle pepper if desired.
- Serve: Serve the elotes hot with lime wedges on the side for squeezing. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, substitute Mexican crema and cotija cheese with vegan sour cream and vegan cheese alternatives.
- Adjust the amount of chipotle pepper according to your spice preference.
- If you don't have a grill, you can roast the corn under a broiler or cook on a stovetop grill pan for similar charred flavor.
- The lime zest and juice add brightness; do not skip for authentic tang.
- Leftover sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear
- Calories: 197 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 219 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
