Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

A serving platter with two ears of grilled corn, husks tied back, one white corn, one yellow, both topped with elote seasoning, chopped cilantro, and crumbled Cotija cheese.

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This simple recipe for grilled Mexican street corn (elote) is a delicious way to enjoy fresh corn when it's at at its peak in summer. Sweet, a little smoky and loaded with flavor, it's a great choice for your next cookout.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Sides

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: servings

Author: Lynne Webb

Ingredients

4 ears fresh sweet corn husks left on
1-1/2 tablespoons Olive oil
Elote seasoning to taste (see notes)
1/3 cup melted butter
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
4 lime wedges
Crema for drizzling optional (see notes)

Instructions

To prepare the corn for grilling by soaking it, in the husks, in cool water for 30 to 45 minutes. This will keep the husks from charring on the hot grill.
Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to a medium-high temperature (about 400°F).
Peel the back the husks to about 2/3 of the way down the length of each cob to expose the kernels. Remove as much of the silk as you can (don't worry if you can't get it all) and discard.
Brush the exposed kernels with olive oil and sprinkle with elote seasoning. Re-cover the corn with the husks and arrange the ears in a single layer on the grill. Cover and grill for 12 to 15 minutes, turning them with tongs every 4 to 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
To serve, pull the husks back all the way to expose the entire cob, brush each ear with melted butter, then sprinkle with chopped cilantro and crumbled Cotija. Add a squeeze of lime and drizzle with crema if desired (see notes).

Notes

Homemade Elote Seasoning

To make elote seasoning, combine 2 tablespoons of chili powder with 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1-1/2 teaspoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Mix well and store in an airtight container.

Quick Homemade Crema

To make a quick homemade crema, simply whisk together 2 tablespoons of sour cream, 1 teaspoon of half and half (or heavy cream), 1-1/2 teaspoons of lime juice, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of minced garlic until smooth. The texture should be slightly runny for easy drizzling.

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