Description
Grilled Mexican Street Corn, known as Elotes, is a vibrant and flavorful summer dish featuring sweet corn grilled to smoky perfection, then slathered with a creamy mixture of Mexican crema, mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, lime, and chipotle pepper. It's topped with crumbly cotija cheese and served with lime wedges for a tangy finish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Corn and Toppings
- 6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- Lime wedges, to serve
Crema 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 tablespoons lime juice, from one lime
Instructions
- Prepare the Grill: Once the grill is hot, clean the grates thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure good grill marks on the corn.
- Make Crema Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together Mexican crema, mayonnaise, minced cilantro, garlic, ground chipotle pepper, lime zest, and lime juice. Taste and add salt if needed. Set aside while you grill the corn.
- Grill the Corn: Place the husked ears of corn directly onto the hot grill grates. Let them cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes or until the kernels begin to char and turn golden brown. Turn the corn and repeat on all sides until evenly browned, about 10 minutes total. Remove the corn from the grill and place it on a serving plate.
- Coat and Serve: Using a brush or spoon, generously coat each ear of grilled corn with the prepared crema sauce. Sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese over the sauced corn. For extra heat, add additional chipotle pepper if desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, substitute Mexican crema and mayonnaise with vegan alternatives and use a dairy-free cheese substitute or nutritional yeast.
- Adjust the amount of chipotle pepper to control the spice level according to your preference.
- If you don't have a grill, you can roast the corn in a hot oven or use a grill pan on the stovetop.
- Fresh lime juice and zest brighten the flavor, so use fresh limes for the best taste.
- Serve immediately after coating to enjoy the warm, smoky flavor and creamy texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear of corn
- 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
