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Grilled Mexican Corn (Elote)

Learn how to make flavorful Mexican street corn at home in minutes! Sweet corn is covered in crema, cheese, chili, lime juice, and cilantro!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce
  • 0.25 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.25 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced or pressed
For the Corn
  • 6 ears fresh corn husked and cleaned
  • 0.5 cup cotija cheese crumbled
  • 2 medium limes juiced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder or to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne powder optional, or to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika optional, or to taste
  • cilantro fresh, for garnishing (optional)

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat or an indoor grill pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Mexican crema (or sour cream), and minced garlic until well combined. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more crema to reach desired consistency. Set aside.
  3. Brush the grill grates with a little vegetable oil. Place the husked corn on the grill and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender and slightly charred. Rotate every couple of minutes for even cooking.
  4. Remove the corn from the grill. Generously brush all sides of each corn cob with the prepared mayonnaise-crema mixture.
  5. Sprinkle the crumbled cotija cheese evenly over the sauced corn. You can also dredge the corn in a shallow bowl of cheese.
  6. Drizzle fresh lime juice over the corn and sprinkle with chili powder, cayenne powder, and/or smoked paprika to your preference.
  7. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

This grilled Mexican corn, also known as Elote, is a popular street food in Mexico. It's best served immediately after preparation.