Description
This Grilled Mexican Street Corn recipe features sweet corn charred to perfection on a hot grill, then topped with a creamy, tangy sauce made from Mexican crema, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime, and chipotle pepper. Finished with crumbled cotija cheese and a squeeze of fresh lime, this vibrant and flavorful dish is a perfect appetizer or side for summer barbecues and Mexican-inspired meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Corn
- 6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed
Sauce
- 1/2 cup Mexican crema, or sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest, from 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
Toppings
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- Lime wedges, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the grill. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to 400°F. Once hot, clean the grates thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Prepare the sauce. In a bowl, whisk together the Mexican crema, mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, ground chipotle pepper, lime zest, and lime juice. Taste the mixture and add salt judiciously if needed, considering the natural saltiness from crema and cotija cheese. Set the sauce aside.
- Grill the corn. Place the husked ears of corn directly onto the grill grates. Grill each ear for about 3 minutes on one side without moving, until the kernels begin to char and turn golden brown. Then turn the corn to each side, grilling until all sides are evenly charred, about 9 to 12 minutes total. Remove the corn from the grill to a serving plate.
- Apply sauce and toppings. Using a brush or spoon, coat each ear of grilled corn generously with the prepared crema mixture. Sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese over the coated corn. For extra flavor and heat, sprinkle additional chipotle pepper if desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges for squeezing over the top.
Notes
- For authentic flavor, use Mexican crema, but sour cream is a good substitute if unavailable.
- Adjust chipotle pepper to your preferred heat level, adding more for a smoky, spicy kick.
- Use fresh lime zest and juice for bright citrus flavor.
- Clean the grill grates well before cooking to prevent corn from sticking.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can char the corn under a broiler or on a stovetop grill pan.
- Serve immediately for the best taste and texture; leftovers are best reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
