Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
A vibrant, off-the-cob version of Mexican street corn (elote) featuring charred corn kernels tossed with creamy, tangy lime dressing, cotija cheese, and chili powder. This crowd-pleasing salad brings authentic Mexican flavors to your table.
Ingredients
- 6 ears fresh corn on the cob, husked
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (can substitute feta)
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 limes lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
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1
Cut the kernels off 6 ears husked fresh corn on the cob cobs. You should have about 4-5 cups of kernels.
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2
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and let it melt.
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3
Add the corn kernels to the hot skillet in a single layer (you may need to do this in batches). Allow the corn to char slightly, stirring occasionally, for about 3-4 minutes. The kernels should have some brown spots but still be crisp-tender.
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4
Transfer the charred corn to a large bowl and let it cool for about a few minutes.
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5
In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp sour cream, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 2 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
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6
Add 1/2 finely diced red onion, 1 seeded and finely diced jalapeño pepper, and half of the 1/2 cup crumbled (can substitute feta) cotija cheese to the bowl with the corn. Pour the dressing over the corn mixture and toss gently to combine.
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7
Fold in most of the 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, reserving some for garnish.
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8
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining cotija cheese, reserved cilantro, an extra sprinkle of chili powder, and 2 limes for serving lime wedges on the side.
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9
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a day. Bring to room temperature and stir well before serving if refrigerated.