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    Home » Recipes » Sides » Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

    Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

    Published: Aug 23, 2021 · Updated: Aug 3, 2022 Written by Alicia · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Mexican Street Corn Salad is the perfect summertime corn recipe! Fresh corn cut off the cob and charred a deep brown, tossed in a creamy dressing, and topped with salty cotija cheese and smoky paprika, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

    Bowl of Mexican street corn salad topped with cotija cheese and paprkia

    Years ago, I was at a Mexican restaurant with some friends and they ordered elotes. On-the-cob Mexican street corn that is charred over the grill, then slathered with mayo, lime juice, cotija cheese, and a sprinkling of paprika, it had everything you'd want. It was salty, crunchy, creamy, cheesy. I was in love! If I see it on the menu, you know I'm ordering some.

    Then, I learned about Esquites, the salad version of elotes. And again, I fell. I knew I would have to start making my own version at home so that I could enjoy it whenever I wanted. So here it is, my version of Mexican Street Corn Salad.

    Bowl of Mexican street corn salad next to cheese, lime slices, and cilantro

    Ingredients

    Corn - Nothing beats fresh corn for this recipe. However, frozen or canned corn will work also and might be a better option if you're making this during colder months when fresh corn is not in season. I like the method of cutting the corn off the cob before cooking. That allows more of the corn to become nice and brown.

    Red Onion - Charred red onion is a delicious companion to the corn. Dice the onion to a similar size as the corn kernels.

    Cilantro - Cilantro adds much-needed greenery and great flavor to this dish. However, if you don't like cilantro, you can substitute parsley, chives, or green onions.

    Mayo - I use store-bought mayo for this recipe but homemade will work too. You also could use vegan mayo and leave off the cotija cheese for an easy vegan version.

    Lime Juice - Gives the whole dish a slightly tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness of the corn and onion and the creaminess of the mayo.

    Cotija Cheese - Cotija is a dry crumbly cheese that adds a nice saltiness.

    Paprika - I like to sprinkle some paprika on top to add a pop of color. If you want to add some heat to this recipe, you could substitute it with chili powder.

    How to Make Mexican Street Corn Salad

    Heat oil in a cast iron (my preference) or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.

    Once the oil is hot, pour in the corn kernels and smooth them into a flat layer. Allow it to cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, only stirring every couple of minutes so that the corn can get a nice char on it.

    Remove the corn from the pan and put it into a bowl.

    Add the red onion to the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring only once or twice. Remove the onion from the pan and add it to the corn.

    In the bowl with the corn and red onion, add the mayo, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well.

    Spoon the corn salad into a serving bowl. Crumble the cotija cheese over the top and sprinkle with paprika.

    This can be served immediately while it is still warm or it can be covered and chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving. Either way, it's absolutely delicious!

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    Bowl of street corn salad topped with cotija cheese and paprika next to lime wedges and cilantro

    Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

    Alicia
    Fresh corn charred a deep brown and tossed in a creamy dressing, this Mexican Street Corn Salad is the perfect summer corn recipe!
    5 from 4 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Sides
    Servings 4 servings

    Equipment

    12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups corn from about 4 ears of corn
    • 1 cup red onion diced
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil
    • ¼ cup cilantro roughly chopped
    • 3 ½ tablespoons mayo
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ cup cotija cheese
    • 2 teaspoons Paprika

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a cast iron or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat.
    • Once the oil is hot, pour the corn into the pan and smooth it into a flat layer. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring only a few times. You want to give the corn enough time to get a nice char on it before stirring. Remove the corn from the pan and place it in a large bowl.
    • Add the red onions to the hot pan and sauté, again stirring as little as possible. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes and then remove and add to the bowl with the corn.
    • Add the mayo, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
    • Place the corn salad into a serving bowl and top with cotija cheese and sprinkle with paprika.

    Notes

    • For a vegan version, use vegan mayo and skip the cotija cheese.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 267kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 476mgPotassium: 332mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 498IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisHomeKitchen or tag #thishomekitchen so I can see your photos!

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    Hi! I'm Alicia. I'm the recipe developer behind This Home Kitchen. Here, you'll find easy, cozy, family-pleasing recipes to help you bring your loved ones around the table.

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