Description
Elote, or Mexican grilled corn, is a delicious and popular street food featuring charred corn on the cob slathered with a creamy mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, and cotija cheese. This smoky, tangy, and slightly spicy side dish is garnished with chili powder, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges for an authentic Mexican flavor experience perfect for summer cookouts.
Ingredients
Scale
Corn and Toppings
- 4 ears fresh corn, husked
- Lime wedges, for serving
- Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Creamy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream or Mexican crema
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (or Tajín seasoning)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Grill: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat to ensure a hot cooking surface for charring the corn evenly.
- Grill the Corn: Place the husked corn directly on the grill, turning occasionally, and cook for about 10–12 minutes or until the corn develops a nice char on all sides, bringing out a smoky flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream (or Mexican crema), fresh lime juice, garlic powder if using, and half of the crumbled cotija cheese. Mix well to create a creamy, tangy topping.
- Coat the Corn: Once grilled, brush each ear of corn generously with the creamy sauce mixture until evenly coated on all sides.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Sprinkle the remaining cotija cheese over the coated corn, then dust the corn with chili powder or Tajín seasoning to add a bit of heat and extra flavor.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the elote with chopped fresh cilantro if desired and serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the corn.
Notes
- Cotija cheese can be substituted with feta cheese if cotija is unavailable.
- For a lighter version, replace the mayonnaise and sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
- Elote is best enjoyed hot and fresh right off the grill for optimal flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
