Mexican Roasted Corn Off The Cob Recipe (Street Corn Salad)
Learn how to make this authentic Mexican Roasted Corn Off The Cob recipe (aka Esquites or Corn in a Cup). If you love Elote, you'll love this street corn salad!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 4 ears of fresh corn
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup finely crumbled Cotija or feta cheese
- 1 tbsp finely minced fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ -1 jalapeno or serrano pepper seeds and veins removed, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon chile powder like cayenne pepper, ancho or guajillo chili powder
- Juice of one lime
- Lime wedges to serve optional
Instructions
- Remove the husks and silk from the corn. Cut the kernels off the cob with a sharp knife by laying it flat lenghtwise, slicing off a side, then rotating onto its flat side. Continue rotating the corn as you cut away the sides, always keeping a flat side on the cutting board for stability.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 5 full minutes. Add the corn kernels and salt. Stir to coat evenly with oil, then let them cook without stirring until they are charring on one side (about 5 minutes). Stir and let them char on the other side (about 2-3 more minutes). Be careful, as the odd kernel may sputter and pop out of the pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the charred corn, mayonnaise, Cotija cheese, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno (if using), cayenne powder, lime juice, and salt. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Divide the mixture into cups, garnish with extra cheese, cilantro, a sprinkle of cayenne, and lime wedges if desired.
Video
Notes
If the corn releases a lot of liquid during cooking drain it in a colander before preparing the salad so you don't water down the dressing. Some corn has a lot of "corn milk".
Feel free to swap in frozen - you'll need about 3 cups of corn kernels.
One lime typically yields about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of juice. It's always a good idea to roll the lime on a hard surface before juicing to help release more juice. Using a citrus juicer can also help you extract as much juice as possible from the lime.
Nutrition
Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.1mg