Every summer once the sun is out (and actually stays out past 5pm!), my dad and I are ready to grill any and everything! Grilling usually calls burgers and hotdogs to mind, but it’s an incredible way to cook your vegetables, too. My favorite grilled vegetable of ALL time is corn, and the absolute best way to prepare it is the classic, Mexican street corn way: elote! I’ve been obsessed recently with ordering elote from a local taqueria and knew I had to make it at home. To make sure I did the recipe justice I referenced great Mexican chefs like this informative recipe article on MyLatinaTable.com that taught me all about the different between American yellow corn and traditional Mexican white corn.
It elevates an already great vegetable into something beyond delicious. The kernels get beautifully charred on the outside, but sweet on the inside. As soon as the cobs come off the grill, they’re slathered in a tangy lime juice and mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkled with a generous amount of chili powder for spice, queso fresco for creamy, saltiness, and cilantro to round it all out with a fresh, herby note. I like mine with an extra squeeze of lime before I dig in. You may end up with this one all over your face and hands, but that’s how you know it’s delicious!
1. Can I Just Use Elote Seasoning?
There are great seasoning blends, like Tajin, that incorporate all or most of the elote garnishes (even dried lime and cheese!). I think those blends are absolutely delicious, but personally, nothing beats the fresh versions of each topping.
2. American vs Mexican Corn
The type of corn that grows in the US is more tender and sweet than the type that grows in Mexico, so authentic Mexican elote requires the corn to be boiled for a longer period of time (usually with bay leaf or other flavors in the water) before it’s charred.
3. Corn for a Crowd
Elote is perfect for a potluck, picnic, or any summer get together! I like to set it up with all the charred corn piled together beside the toppings, a little corn station if you will! This way, guests can totally customize their elote based on how much of each topping they want.
Elote (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ cup queso fresco, crumbled
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves, chopped
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Shuck corn, removing any excess corn silk from corn. If the corn cob has some of the shank left at the end, keep it, as it can be helpful in turning the cobs while cooking.
- Rub each corn cob with about ¼ teaspoon of oil. Place 2 cobs directly over medium high gas burner or grill, or in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. If using a gas burner, turn about every 1 minute, cooking for 4-6 minutes total, until each side is charred, with some yellow or white still showing on corn cob. If using cast iron skillet, cook for about 2 minutes per side, cooking for 8-10 minutes total.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a cutting board or clean work surface and repeat with remaining ears of corn.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a cutting board or clean work surface and repeat with remaining ears of corn.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and lime juice.
- Then using the back of a spoon or pastry brush, coat each cob with about 2 tablespoons of mayo mixture, then generously sprinkle with the grated cheese, a sprinkle of chili pepper and cilantro leaves. If desired, squeeze additional lime over top and serve immediately.
