This elote recipe is so easy even a student in a dorm room could make it.
I have such good memories walking down a busy Mexican street and smelling something incredible. Sweet corn, creamy mayo, tangy lime and spicy chile all mixed together. That’s elote, and it’s about to become your new favorite snack.
I’ve eaten elote from street vendors in Playa del Carmen. This recipe captures that exact same flavor using ingredients you can find at any grocery store. No fancy equipment needed.
What Makes This Mexican Street Corn Recipe Authentic
Real Mexican elote uses specific ingredients. Mayo (never sour cream). Cotija cheese (the salty, crumbly white cheese). Lime juice and chile piquín or Tajín seasoning.
Street vendors in Mexico don’t use smoked paprika or regular chili powder. They use chile piquín, which has a bright, clean heat. Tajín works perfectly if you can’t find chile piquín.
Mexican crema is traditional, but mayo is more common and easier to find. Many vendors use mayo anyway.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This elote tastes exactly like what you’d buy from a street vendor in Mexico. The creamy mayo balances the salty cheese. The lime adds brightness. The chile gives it that perfect kick.
It’s comfort food that happens to be incredibly delicious. One bite and you’ll understand why elote is so popular.
Make this when you want something special but don’t have much time. Your taste buds will thank you.
Pro Tips for Perfect Elote
Get the Corn Right Fresh corn tastes better but frozen works fine. Don’t overcook it. You want tender kernels, not mushy ones.
Load Up the Toppings Authentic elote is not subtle. Use plenty of mayo, cheese and chile. That’s what makes it taste like the real thing.
Eat It Hot Elote tastes best when the corn is still warm. The heat helps all the flavors blend together.
Make It Your Own
Once you master basic elote, try these variations:
Add a pinch of smoked paprika for deeper flavor (not traditional but tasty).
Mix some hot sauce into the mayo for extra heat.
Try it with Mexican crema instead of mayo if you find it at the store.
Why This Recipe Works for Everyone – Even Student!
Elote is perfect dorm food. You need one ear of corn and five simple ingredients. The corn cooks in your microwave in under five minutes. The sauce takes two minutes to mix.
College life gets crazy. You’re juggling classes, assignments and everything else that comes with student life. Finding time to cook feels impossible sometimes.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need to free up some time for cooking or other activities, you can always turn to https://papersowl.com/ to help manage your academic workload. They can assist with tasks like coursework, essays and even presentations, helping you balance your studies with your dorm life. This way, you can enjoy more time whipping up delicious dishes like elote without stressing over your to-do list.
The best part about elote? It tastes like you spent hours making it but only takes minutes.
Authentic Mexican Street Corn in 7 Miinutes
Yield:
1
Prep Time:
2 minutes
Cook Time:
4 minutes
Additional Time:
1 minute
Total Time:
7 minutes
This easy Mexican street corn is so simple you can just make 1 but you’ll want more because it’s so good.
Ingredients
- 1 ear of fresh corn
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons cotija cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 teaspoon chile piquín
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- If using fresh corn, leave the husk on to grill, boil or microwave for 4-5 minutes. Let it cool for a minute, then peel away the husk.
- Make the sauce: mix mayo, minced garlic and half the lime juice in a small bowl. Stir until smooth.
- Assemble the elote: if you have butter, rub it all over the hot corn. This is what street vendors do. Use a brush or spoon to coat the entire corn cob with the mayo mixture. Don’t be shy. More sauce equals more flavor. Roll the corn in crumbled cotija cheese. Get it everywhere. Sprinkle chile piquín or Tajín all over. Add the remaining lime juice.
- Serve immediately: Eat it right away while the corn is still warm. Have napkins ready because this gets messy. Serve with extra lime wedges on the side.
Notes
Can’t Find Cotija Cheese?
Use queso fresco or crumbled feta. Parmesan works in a pinch but changes the flavor.
No Chile Piquín?
Tajín is perfect. Regular chili powder works but isn’t traditional.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 433Total Fat: 38gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 478mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 6g
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although BaconisMagic.ca attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Pin It For Later: Mexican Elotes Recipe
