Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Salad, or Esquites, is a flavor-packed dish that brings the taste of Mexico right to your kitchen. It takes all the smoky, creamy goodness of grilled corn on the cob (elotes) and turns it into a vibrant, easy-to-eat salad. It’s perfect for a side dish, a light meal, or a quick snack.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ears fresh corn, husked
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 1½ tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- ⅓ cup chopped scallions
- ¼ cup crumbled Cotija or feta cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder
- 1 jalapeño pepper, diced
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Grill the Corn: Preheat your grill to medium-high. Lightly brush the corn with olive oil and grill for about 2 minutes per side, until you see some nice char marks. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly.
- Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lime zest, and lime juice.
- Assemble the Salad: Once the corn is cool enough to handle, carefully slice the kernels from the cobs and add them to the dressing bowl. Stir to coat every kernel.
- Finish & Serve: Add the chopped scallions, crumbled cheese, cilantro, smoked paprika, diced jalapeño, and salt. Give everything one last good mix. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Notes
- Serving Suggestions: This salad is fantastic on its own or as a side for grilled chicken, steak, or tacos. It’s also great with tortilla chips!
- Tips & Tricks: For less heat, remove the seeds and white membranes from the jalapeño. If you don’t have a grill, you can get a similar smoky flavor by pan-searing the corn kernels in a hot skillet with a little olive oil.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors actually get even better the next day! We don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Find it online: https://new.projuktigeek.com/mexican-street-corn-salad/