There’s nothing quite as delightful as enjoying fresh sweet corn in the heat of summer! Most of us tend to steam or grill ours, then top it with some (or lots!) of butter, some salt and pepper (if desired) and enjoy this treat of simple yet delectable goodness! Fresh sweet corn simply can’t beat this one.
But in Mexico street vendors have long offered corn in an irresistibly delicious fashion that is only recently making waves in America. Boil or grill corn called elotes is coated in butter, mayonnaise, cotija cheese and hot sauce before being finished off with fresh lime for extra tart flavor and is always customized to each diner’s personal preferences – providing delicious cheesey-spicy corn perfection!
As soon as I heard about street treats I knew I wanted to try making them immediately. Once my soon-to-be husband asked why this type of corn hadn’t been served before… well… that answered that one for me.
Now if the name mayonnaise is making you skeptical, like it did me, please give it a try. Who knows? Maybe like me you might become hooked like me. And remember it doesn’t have to be made in large batches: simply sample one or two ears first as a sampler before making more! Plus these guys couldn’t be easier; all it takes is some sprinkles here and a dash there and your done!
Mexican Street Vendor Corn can easily be made at home using fresh corn and Cotija cheese from your pantry. Cotija cheese is a white, salty and crumbly cow’s milk cheese from Michoacan that gets its name from Cotija town located therein; if unavailable substitute with Parmesan or Feta for an equally delicious result.
Cayenne pepper works perfectly for dusting with chiles. If you want something different, experiment with other kinds of chiles in your spice cabinet; I used an even split between cayenne and ancho chile powder as well as Tajin (an all natural mild chile lime salt that packs tons of lime and chile flavor), and some dashes of Tajin for garnish. Tajin is my go-to Mexican seasoning; its all natural mild chile lime salt packs loads of lime flavor while still providing plenty of lime flavor for other applications like garnishing fruit platters, cocktail glasses rimmed or simply adding that extra kick. Check it out here – its addictive!
Regarding mayonnaise, everyone’s favorite store-bought variety will do. Duke’s or Hellman’s are both excellent options – most street vendors in Mexico use this variety. But if you want something truly homemade and would like a go at making your own batch here’s an awesome recipe. Add in some melted butter just because butter makes everything better!
Here’s our recipe for Mexican Style Street Vendor Corn! No passport necessary!