Description
This Creamy Mexican Street Corn Cup, known as Esquites, transforms the popular street food into a convenient and irresistible bowl of tangy, zesty, and slightly spicy corn perfection.
Ingredients
4 cups corn kernels (fresh, grilled, or frozen & thawed)
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp mayonnaise
½ cup Mexican crema (or sour cream)
½ cup crumbled Cotija cheese (or feta)
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1-2 jalapeños, seeded and minced (optional, for heat)
Juice of 1 lime
½ tsp chili powder (or more to taste)
¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
Salt to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the corn. If using fresh corn, grill or boil it until tender, then cut kernels off the cob. If using frozen corn, thaw completely. For canned corn, drain well.
Step 2: Sauté the corn. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the corn kernels and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly caramelized or lightly charred.
Step 3: Mix the sauce. In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, Mexican crema, fresh lime juice, chili powder, and smoked paprika (if using). Stir until smooth.
Step 4: Combine ingredients. Add the sautéed corn, crumbled Cotija cheese, and chopped cilantro to the bowl with the sauce. If desired, add minced jalapeños for extra heat.
Step 5: Season and stir. Stir everything together until all ingredients are well combined and coated in the creamy sauce. Taste and season with salt as needed.
Step 6: Serve. Spoon the creamy Mexican street corn into individual cups or bowls. Garnish with a sprinkle of extra Cotija cheese, chili powder, or fresh cilantro before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce. You can also roast the corn in the oven for a deeper flavor. If Cotija cheese is unavailable, aged feta or parmesan can be a good substitute.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 55mg