Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
Make authentic Esquites, a creamy Mexican street corn salad featuring roasted corn, lime, chili, and Cotija cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or oil
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Mexican crema
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese, plus more for topping
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (or to taste)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- If using frozen or canned corn, pat it dry. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob.
- Heat the butter or oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly charred or browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise or crema, sour cream (if using), lime juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Add the slightly cooled corn to the dressing mixture. Stir well to coat all the corn evenly.
- Gently fold in the 1/2 cup of crumbled Cotija cheese and the chopped cilantro.
- Taste the salad and adjust salt, lime juice, or chili powder as needed.
- Serve warm or chilled. Top each serving with extra Cotija cheese and a sprinkle of chili powder before serving.
Notes
- For a smoky flavor, grill the corn cobs before cutting off the kernels.
- You can substitute feta cheese for Cotija if you cannot find it, though the flavor will change slightly.
- For a vegan version, use vegan mayonnaise and omit the Cotija cheese or use a vegan cheese substitute.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 25
