The Best Elote Recipe (Elotes Mexicanos)

Mexican street corn, or Elotes Mexicanos, is a traditional Mexican food that's quick to make and addictive! This elote recipe is a must try for the summer.

Total Time: 15 mins

You haven’t lived until you try the best Elote Recipe, Mexican Street Corn, it is SO good! Mexican street corn, or Elotes Mexicanos, is a traditional Mexican food recipe that’s quick to make and addictive!

You can enjoy Mexican Elote straight on the corn, like corn on the cob, or serve it in cups. Easy and delicious, this recipe is a must-try for a barbecue.

What is Elote?

Mexican Elote (Elote Mexicano), also known as Mexican street corn, is one of the best street foods in the world. It’s super simple to make and even easier to eat.

If you like corn on the cob on the grill, and especially if you like corn with mayo and Mexican spice blends, you will love this Mexican corn recipe. It is one of our favorite traditional Mexican dishes.

Corn cobs, grilled until charred, are slathered in Mexican crema, spices, and cotija cheese. This traditional Mexican recipe is the perfect Summer Grilled Corn Recipe. Fresh corn, layered with flavor, and totally addictive.

Mexican Street Corn Ingredients

• 4 sweet corn on the cob, shucked
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• Zest of one fresh lime + lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika (can be mild or smoky)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro not packed
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese
• Lime wedges to serve

The corn and Mexican crema are rich and sweet, the spices give it a kick, and the cotija cheese is salty and crumbly. This corn recipe also uses a squeeze of lime juice for a fresh zing.

What is Mexican Crema?

Crema is the Mexican version of French crème fraîche. Both are slightly sour and thickened cream. It is a bit milder and thinner than American sour cream.

What is Cotija Cheese?

Cotija is a Mexican cheese made from cow’s milk. It’s a bit salty in flavor and crumbly in texture. Cotija cheese comes in two different types – fresh and aged.

Though both types are salty, the fresh version is very soft while the aged version is harder. The hard version is similar to Parmesan cheese.

Cotija Cheese Substitute

If you can’t find cotija cheese at your local grocer, look for Mexican queso fresco. It is a bit milder but will also work well in this recipe.

Another alternative to cotija cheese is feta cheese. It has a similar saltiness and texture.

How to Make Elotes

Mexican street corn is so simple to make. The only cooking involved is cooking some corn on the cob on the grill. The remaining ingredients are either brushed or sprinkled over the corn, straight off the grill.

Mexican street corn recipes move fairly quickly, so prepare all your ingredients ahead of time.

1. In a bowl, mix together your Mexican crema dressing ingredients
   
2. Grill the corn without the husks on a grill, over high heat, turning regularly for about 10 minutes.
   
3. Brush the corn with the crema dressing, all over.
   
4. Finally, sprinkle the remaining ingredients over the top and serve.

Elote in a Cup

You can eat Mexican Street Corn right off the cob or you can make elotes recipe cups.

Using a knife, slice the corn kernels off the cob and add the corn to a bowl. You can then add all your favorite toppings to your Mexican corn in a cup.

How to Grill Corn on the Cob WITHOUT Husks

Grilling an ear of corn is as simple as brushing a hot grill with oil, then placing the corn on the grill and turning it regularly. You don’t need to take any extra steps to grill corn on the cob without husks.

After about 10 minutes, the corn kernels will be cooked and there will be a slight char on the outside. This char is great for adding a little extra authentic smoky flavor.

How to Grill Corn on the Cob WITH Husks

If you prefer, you can also grill corn on the cob with husks. The steps are very similar to grilling corn on the cob without husks, you simply need to prepare the husks.

To prepare the husks for grilling follow these steps:

1. Peel the husks back carefully, leaving them attached at the bottom of each cob of corn.
2. Remove the corn silks from the husks as best as you can. Normally, this is where you would season the corn. Because the Mexican crema we brush on after has our seasonings, we won’t season here.
3. Place the husk back over the corn. Grill, as you would normally for the time, stated in this recipe.

What to Serve with Elotes Mexicanos

Serve this corn recipe with a good helping of cilantro and cotija cheese. I like to add a squeeze of lime to my Mexican street corn recipe too. It adds a nice acidic zing that cuts through the richness of the dressing and cheese.

It is normally served as a snack, so it is great served on its own or as a side in a Mexican feast. You could easily serve Mexican corn alongside recipes like:

• Carne Asada Recipe
• Mexican Rice Bowl with Shrimp
• Mexican Lasagna with Corn Tortillas
• Instant Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup

And don’t forget dessert! Carlota de Limon (Charlotte Russe Dessert) is a classic Mexican icebox cake. You could also serve Key Lime Pie Squares!

What are you waiting for? This Elote recipe is the perfect Summer snack and one of our favorite side dishes for BBQ. This recipe is a quick, easy, and flavorful treat your family will love!

Love Mexican Recipes? Try these Mexican dishes:

• Chilaquiles Rojos
• Mexican Peanut Butter Cookies
• Mojo Verde

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Elote Recipe

🖨 Print 📌 Pin 📝 Comment

5 from 8 votes

👩‍🍳 Author: Marie Roffey

Prep ⏱: 5 minutes

Cook ⏱: 10 minutes

Total ⏱: 15 minutes

👪 Servings: 4 servings

🥘 Ingredients

• 4 corn on the cob (shucked)
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 clove of garlic (crushed)
• Zest of one lime
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika (can be mild or smoky)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (not packed)
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese
• Lime wedges to serve

🔪 Instructions

• Whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic and lime zest, plus half of each of the chili powder, paprika and cilantro.
• Heat a grill to high heat. Brush the grill with a little oil, then place the corn on top. Cook turning for around 10 minutes until lightly charred on the outside and the kernels are softened a little.
• Take the corn off the grill and immediately brush with the crema mixture. Place them on a plate.
• Sprinkle with the cotija cheese, and the remaining chili powder, paprika and cilantro.
• Serve while hot.

Video

📋 Notes

TIP—GRILLING CORN:

1. 1. How to Grill Corn on the Cob WITHOUT Husks: If you’re not sure how to grill corn on the cob without husks, it really is as simple as brushing a hot grill with oil, then placing the corn on the grill and turning it regularly. You don’t need to take any extra steps to grill corn on the cob without husks.
   2. How to Grill Corn on the Cob WITH Husks: If you prefer, you can also grill corn on the cob with husks. The steps are very similar to grilling corn on the cob without husks, you simply need to prepare the husks.
      1. To prepare the husks for grilling follow these steps:
         1. Peel the husks back carefully, leaving them attached at the bottom of each cob of corn.
         2. Remove the corn silks from the husks as best as you can. Normally, this is where you would season the corn. Because the Mexican crema we brush on after has our seasonings, we won’t season here.
         3. Place the husk back over the corn. Grill as you would normally for the time stated in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 11.5mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 0.7mg

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