Mexican corn (Elote)

Mexican corn (Elote) recipe

Pronounced ‘e-loh-tay’, elote is a Spanish word for Mexican grilled corn, which features chargrilled corn on the cob brushed with a spiced mayonnaise mixture and sprinkled with parmesan cheese and chilli powder. The sweetness from the corn paired with the savoury char from the grill, salty cheese and kick from the chilli makes it an irresistible snack or side dish. Street food is an intrinsic part of Mexican culture and is well known across the globe for having some of the best sweet and savoury foods in the world. This popular Mexican BBQ corn can be found in street carts throughout Mexico, making it a very popular street food for locals and tourists alike. 

Elotes: Mexican street corn

For the best possible results for this elotes recipe, fresh, good quality corn on the husk is a must. Look for corn with whole, yellow kernels that look plump. When choosing parmesan, you can use a block of parmesan that you grate yourself or pre-grated from the packet. The mayonnaise mixture used for elote corn is made from creamy mayonnaise, the rind of a lime, garlic, chilli powder, salt and black pepper. If you like spicy things, feel free to add more chilli powder. For added freshness you can use chopped coriander. 

How to make Mexican corn on the cob

Making this Mexican corn recipe at home is as easy as 1, 2, 3: chargrill the corn, brush on the spiced mayo, sprinkle on the cheese and chilli powder, and eat! This elote recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes and uses many ingredients you probably already have – think mayonnaise, garlic and the spices. Keep a watchful eye on your barbecue or chargrill when cooking the corn. The heat should be high so the corn will cook in approximately 12 to 14 minutes. You’ll know the corn is ready when the kernels are tender and lightly charred. When the corn is cooked through, use a pastry brush to add the mayonnaise mixture evenly. Tie back the corn husks with kitchen string during the prep stage of the recipe and you can use the husks as handy holders to help rotate the cob for even distribution of the mayo, parmesan cheese and chilli powder. 

What to serve with grilled Mexican corn

Elotes are typically served as a snack or side dish, rather than a main dish. Complete your Mexican feast by serving up elotes with our vegan Mexican-style rice or any other favourite Mexican dishes like tacos, nachos, quesadillas or burritos. 

Love this recipe?

For more side dishes to serve with a main course, try this pear and kale coleslaw with miso dressing, cheesy broccoli and bacon bake or our BBQ asparagus and baby broccolini with bacon. Or put on a fiesta with these flavour-packed, crowd-pleasing Mexican recipes.