Description
A smoky, creamy, and tangy grilled Mexican street corn recipe that uses just five core ingredients. This vegetarian and gluten-free side dish delivers authentic street-food flavor with charred corn, cotija cheese, and lime.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 ears of corn, shucked and silks removed
- ½ cup (120g) full-fat mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60g) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (60g) cotija cheese, crumbled
- 2–3 limes (for juice and zest)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder or Tajín
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Shuck the corn, remove silks, rinse, and pat dry. If corn is dry, soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F / 200°C) or heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place corn directly on grill grates or in the skillet. Grill for 10-12 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes, until kernels are tender and have char marks on all sides. Remove and let cool slightly.
- While corn grills, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, melted butter, and lime zest in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Generously coat each ear of corn with the mayo mixture using a basting brush. Roll to ensure full coverage.
- Place coated corn back on the grill for 1-2 minutes to warm the sauce through.
- Remove corn from heat. While still warm, sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese, squeeze fresh lime juice over the top, and dust with chili powder or Tajín. Add cilantro if using.
- Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
For best results, use fresh corn and fresh cotija cheese crumbled by hand. Lime zest is key for aroma. If you cannot find cotija, substitute with a mix of feta and Parmesan. This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but check labels on chili powder and cheese. Do not freeze leftovers as the mayo sauce will separate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear of corn with t
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 8
Keywords: grilled corn, elote, Mexican street corn, cotija cheese, summer recipes, vegetarian side dish, gluten-free, barbecue sides