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Flavorful Mexican Elote Corn in a Cup

mexican elote corn in a cup - featured image
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A quick and easy Mexican street food-inspired recipe featuring creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy corn served in individual cups. Perfect as a snack or side dish that captures authentic street flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (about 450g)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (120g)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (60g)
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (60g)
  • Juice of 1 large lime
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat a medium skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes until hot but not smoking.
  2. Add 3 cups of fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels to the pan. Stir occasionally and cook for 6-8 minutes until kernels develop a nice char and slightly caramelize, turning golden with some darker spots.
  3. While the corn cooks, combine 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl. Stir until smooth and creamy.
  4. Once the corn is cooked and slightly cooled (warm to touch), transfer it to a large bowl. Pour the mayo mixture over the corn and gently fold until every kernel is coated.
  5. Crumble 1/2 cup cotija cheese into the corn mixture, reserving some for garnish. Squeeze the juice of 1 large lime over everything and toss lightly to combine.
  6. Spoon the elote corn into individual cups or small bowls. Sprinkle the remaining cotija cheese on top and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.

Notes

If the mayo mixture is too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons of milk or lime juice to loosen it without losing creaminess. For authentic flavor, char the corn properly by letting it sit between stirs to develop color. Fresh lime juice is essential for brightness. You can prepare the mayo mixture a day ahead and add lime juice and cotija cheese just before mixing with corn. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mexican elote, street corn, corn in a cup, easy Mexican recipe, elote recipe, street food, creamy corn, cotija cheese, lime, chili powder

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/flavorful-mexican-elote-corn-in-a-cup-recipe-easy-perfect-street-food/