Traditional Elote Street Food

2022-10-15

By Hola Cocina

Mexican Cuisine

Appetizer

3 Delicious Ways to Make Elote: Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, and Air Fryer Methods

Slow Cooker Elote: Tender Corn on the Cob with Flavors That Pop

Use the slow cooker to cook your corn on the cob. Add butter, garlic, and your choice of spices, then set the slow cooker on "low" to allow the corn to cook and absorb all the flavors. After cooking, simply coat with the mayo, cheese, and chili powder for a perfect street-style elote.

Instant Pot Elote: Steam Corn in Minutes for a Quick, Flavorful Snack

Use the Instant Pot's "steam" function to cook the corn on the cob in just a few minutes. Once steamed, coat the corn with your creamy toppings, such as mayo, cotija cheese, and chili powder, for a fast, delicious version of street elote.

Air Fryer Elote: Crispy Cheese and Spices for the Ultimate Crunchy Finish

After preparing your elote, place it in the air fryer for a few minutes to crisp the cheese and spices. The "air crisp" function gives your elote a nice, golden finish, enhancing the texture and adding a touch of crunch to the creamy and savory flavors.

Tips and Suggestions on Street Elote

Choosing the right corn

Elote is traditionally made with white corn as it has a sweeter taste and softer texture than yellow corn. If white corn is not available, yellow corn can be used as a substitute. Make sure to choose fresh and firm corn on the cob.

Grilling the corn

Grilling the corn on the cob is crucial to bring out the sweetness and smoky flavor of the corn. Make sure to clean the corn thoroughly and remove the husks and silk. Brush the corn with oil or butter and grill it over high heat, turning frequently until it is charred on all sides.

Adding flavors

Street Food Elote is typically seasoned with a combination of spices, such as chili powder, cumin, and paprika. The corn is also traditionally coated with mayonnaise and sprinkled with crumbled cheese, such as cotija. Experiment with different spice blends and toppings to find the combinations that you enjoy the most, take a gander at our article Enhance the Flavor .

Holding and serving

Street Food Elote is usually served hot on a stick, making it an ideal street food. However, it can be challenging to serve and hold while eating. You can use a wooden skewer or stick to hold the corn and create a handle. Serve Elote on a bed of coarse salt or in a paper cup to make it easier to hold and eat.

Eating

Eating Elote can also be a bit messy! Make sure to have plenty of napkins on hand. Consider slicing the kernels off the cob with a knife or using a corn holder to make it easier to eat.

Classic Street Elote Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 ears of fresh corn on the cob
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • Chili powder to taste
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Clean corn and remove the husks and silk.
  3. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until it is lightly charred on all sides, about 10-15 minutes.
  4. Combine mayonnaise and sour cream in a small bowl.
  5. Once the corn is grilled, brush the mayonnaise and sour cream mixture over each ear of corn.
  6. Sprinkle cotija cheese and chili powder over each ear of corn.
  7. Serve hot with lime wedges.

Cooking Time

Preparation Time 10 min

Cook Time 20 min

Total time 30 min

Nutrition Facts

  • Calories: 250
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Protein: 5 g

Variations for Street Elote

BBQ Street Corn

This version is made with grilled corn on the cob, slathered in creamy BBQ sauce and topped with crumbled feta and fresh cilantro.

BBQ Street Corn

Brisket Elotes

This version is made by combining tender, smoky brisket with grilled corn, topped with tangy crema, chili powder, and fresh cilantro.

Brisket Elotes

Skillet Street Corn

This version is made by sautéing sweet corn in a skillet with garlic, lime juice, and spices, then topped with cheese and cilantro.

Skillet Mexican Street Corn

Spicy Elotes

This version is made by slathering grilled corn with spicy chipotle mayo, sprinkled with chili powder, cotija cheese, and fresh lime juice.

Quick and Easy Spicy Elotes (Mexican Street Corn)

Loaded Street Corn

This version is made by combining grilled corn with creamy ranch dressing, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, and fresh chives for a flavorful twist.

Loaded Mexican Street Corn

Street Elote Recipe Review

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