Print

Fresh Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe Easy Off-the-Cob Summer Side

fresh mexican street corn salad - featured image
Print Recipe

A vibrant and flavorful off-the-cob Mexican street corn salad with smoky charred corn, tangy lime crema, cotija cheese, and fresh cilantro. Perfect as a quick and easy summer side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 ears fresh corn, husked and kernels cut off the cob (about 4 cups or 600g)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (120ml)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (60ml)
  • Juice of 2 fresh limes
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (about 60g)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (ancho preferred)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

Instructions

  1. Prepare the corn by husking and carefully cutting the kernels off the cob to yield about 4 cups (600g). If using frozen corn, thaw and pat dry.
  2. Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Toss corn kernels with 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter. Spread in a single layer and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes to get char marks, then stir and cook another 3-4 minutes until browned and smoky. Watch closely to avoid burning.
  3. Make the lime crema by whisking together mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, lime juice, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  4. Transfer charred corn to a large mixing bowl. Add crumbled cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Pour lime crema over and gently toss until well coated but not mushy.
  5. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lime juice if needed. Let the salad sit for 10 minutes to meld flavors. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Notes

For best flavor, use fresh lime juice and char the corn without stirring initially to develop smoky flavor. Avoid overdressing with lime crema to prevent sogginess. Lime crema can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. If cotija cheese is unavailable, feta or queso fresco can be used as substitutes. For a dairy-free or vegan version, use vegan mayo and sour cream alternatives and omit or replace cheese with seasoned tofu or vegan cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mexican street corn salad, elote salad, summer side dish, off-the-cob corn salad, lime crema, cotija cheese, smoky corn salad

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/fresh-mexican-street-corn-salad-recipe-easy-off-the-cob-summer-side/