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Easy Creamy Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

Close-up of a white bowl filled with charred corn kernels, crumbled white cheese, red onion, and cilantro, showcasing the street corn salad.
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Make a quick and flavorful Mexican street corn salad featuring charred corn, a creamy lime dressing, and cotija cheese. This is a simple side dish perfect for gatherings.

Ingredients

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  • 4 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

Instructions

  1. If using fresh or frozen corn, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels are lightly charred, about 5 to 7 minutes. If using canned corn, skip this step or lightly toast the drained corn for 2 minutes. Remove corn from heat and let it cool slightly.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth. This is your dressing.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the slightly cooled corn, the dressing, the 1/2 cup of cotija cheese, cilantro, and red onion.
  4. Gently mix all ingredients until the corn is evenly coated.
  5. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more lime juice or salt if desired.
  6. Transfer the salad to a serving dish and sprinkle extra crumbled cotija cheese over the top before serving.

Notes

  • For a smoky flavor, grill the corn cobs first, then slice the kernels off before mixing.
  • You can substitute feta cheese for cotija if you cannot find it.
  • This salad tastes best when allowed to sit for at least 15 minutes for the flavors to meld.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tasteportfolio.com/street-corn-salad-recipe-easy-elote/