Description
A quick and easy side dish that captures the bold, smoky, and creamy flavors of authentic Mexican street corn (elote) in a salad format. Perfect for summer gatherings, this recipe combines charred fresh corn with a tangy lime-mayo dressing, cotija cheese, and cilantro.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ears fresh corn on the cob
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 fresh limes (juiced and zested)
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove husks and silk from corn ears. Rinse and pat dry thoroughly.
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush corn with melted butter.
- Grill corn for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides and kernels are tender but crisp.
- Remove corn from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Stand a cob upright on a cutting board and slice downward to remove kernels. Rotate and repeat, then scrape the cob to release milky juice.
- In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, cumin, and chili powder until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add corn kernels to the dressing and toss gently to coat.
- Fold in crumbled cotija cheese and chopped cilantro.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
For best results, use fresh corn for sweetness and crunch. If using frozen corn, thaw and drain thoroughly. Toasting spices lightly before adding enhances flavor. The salad tastes better after chilling overnight. Do not freeze, as the dairy-based dressing will separate. If the salad is too thick, add a splash of lime juice or water.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: Mexican street corn, elote salad, creamy corn salad, summer side dish, grilled corn, vegetarian recipe, easy side dish, cotija cheese