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Mexican Street Corn (Elote) Recipe

4.9 from 66 reviews

This Mexican Street Corn recipe delivers a deliciously creamy and spicy twist on traditional corn, featuring tender simmered kernels mixed with a zesty sriracha mayo sauce, crumbled cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, chili powder, and lime wedges for a perfect balance of flavors. Easy to prepare and ideal as a snack or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Frozen Corn

  • 1 pound (450 g) frozen corn
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Sauce

  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon sriracha sauce, or to taste
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Lime salt, optional, to taste

Toppings

  • 1/2 cup (65 g) cotija cheese or queso fresco, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup (10 g) fresh cilantro, chopped, to taste
  • Chili powder, to taste
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Prepare the boiling water: Bring 240 ml of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Add the sugar and stir until it is fully dissolved, creating a lightly sweetened boiling base for the corn.
  2. Cook the corn: Add the frozen corn to the boiling water. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the kernels are tender and heated through, allowing even cooking without overcooking.
  3. Make the sauce: While the corn simmers, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sriracha sauce, kosher salt, and lime salt (if using) in a bowl. Stir until the mixture is smooth and uniform, forming the creamy, spicy dressing.
  4. Drain and cool corn: Once cooked, drain the corn thoroughly and return it to the pan. Let it cool for about 3 minutes, which helps the sauce adhere better to the kernels.
  5. Mix corn with sauce: Fold the sriracha-mayo mixture into the warm corn, mixing thoroughly to ensure all kernels are evenly coated with the flavorful sauce.
  6. Serve and garnish: Divide the dressed corn into four serving cups. Top each serving with crumbled cotija cheese, chopped fresh cilantro, a sprinkle of chili powder, and a lime wedge. Serve immediately to enjoy the dish at its freshest and most vibrant.

Notes

  • Use lime salt for a tangy twist, but kosher salt works perfectly if you prefer a cleaner salt flavor.
  • If cotija cheese is unavailable, queso fresco or a mild feta cheese can be good substitutes.
  • Adjust sriracha amounts to control spiciness level to your preference.
  • This dish is best served fresh for the best texture and flavor experience.

Keywords: Mexican street corn, elote, cotija cheese, spicy corn salad, sriracha mayo, lime, cilantro