Mexican Roasted Corn Salad
Inspired by elote (street corn), this Mexican Roasted Corn Salad has a bright and creamy flavor that is always a crowd pleaser. Can be served chilled or at room temperature.
I love drawing inspiration for new recipes from places I travel. And even places I haven’t personally traveled. My husband has been going to Mexico quite a bit for work lately.
Aside from all of the excellent food souvenirs he brings back (tequila, Mexican vanilla extract, tequila, tamarind candy, tequila, agave nectar, tequila), he also brings back stories from all of the awesome meals he eats there.
This Mexican Roasted Corn Salad is inspired by the corn on the cob (called elote) that is sold by street vendors in Mexico. Jaw problems prevent me from enjoying two of life’s great joys – chewing gum (oh, how I miss it!) and eating corn on the cob.
Missing out on both of those things makes me pretty sad, but cutting all my corn off the cob is OK when I roast the kernels in the oven and then jazz them up with a bunch of tasty ingredients.
What is elote?:
Traditional elote is fresh corn on the cob, generally grilled or boiled, that is coated with mayonnaise and toppings like chili powder, cheese, lime juice and hot sauce.
A version of elote where the kernels are cut from the cob and mixed with the toppings is called equites.
This version is eaten with a spoon. So, the recipe below is actually most similar to esquites, although elote seems to be the term that Americans recognize more often.
How to make Mexican Roasted Corn Salad:
After cutting kernels off of fresh ears of corn, I roasted the kernels in the oven to bring out their sweetness. Then, this salad gets a double dose of spiciness from both diced green chiles and cayenne, but the spiciness is tempered by just a smidge of mayonnaise and sour cream.
Cotija or feta cheese work well here to add a bit of saltiness, and make sure you add plenty of lime juice for brightness.
What are the ingredients in roasted street corn?
- sweet corn
- diced green chiles
- garlic
- red onion
- cotija or feta cheese
- cilantro
- lime juice
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- chili powder
- cayenne pepper
- salt
What kind of cheese is in Mexican Roasted Corn Salad?
I generally like to use either cotija or feta cheese. Cotija cheese is a dry, firm Mexican cheese that is quite salty. While it’s not something I would eat on it’s own, it’s saltiness makes it perfect to balance the sweetness of the corn.
If I’m shopping at a store where cotija is not available, I’ll grab a tub or a chunk of feta cheese to use in this salad instead. It has a similar salty flavor profile and crumbly texture.
Do I have to use fresh corn? Can I use frozen corn?
Yes, you can definitely use frozen corn! In fact, I’ve made this using frozen corn myself several times when fresh corn wasn’t quite in season in my area. If using frozen corn, try to thaw and pat the kernels dry before roasting.
Also, be aware that they may take a little bit longer to roast than fresh corn kernels, because even after you dry them, they’ll still likely be a little more “wet” than fresh kernels. Keep an eye on them while they’re roasting, and just cook until they become golden brown.
I don’t like mayonnaise. What can I substitute for it?
Hey, if you’re a mayonnaise hater, you can still enjoy this salad. Just use extra sour cream, or Greek yogurt. I’ve tried it all three ways, and it’s delicious every time.
Mexican Roasted Corn Salad
Inspired by elote (street corn), this Mexican Roasted Corn Salad has a bright and creamy flavor that is always a crowd pleaser. Can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Ingredients
- 6 ears of sweet corn, silks and husks removed
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 3/4 cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons canned diced green chiles
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or 1/4 teaspoon if you’d like it more spicy)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut corn kernels from cobs. Spray rimmed baking pan with nonstick spray. Spread corn in single layer on prepared pan. Roast 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring twice.
- Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together garlic, onion, 1/2 cup cheese, cilantro, lime juice, green chiles, mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, cayenne and salt.
- Let corn cool slightly, then toss with mayonnaise mixture until well combined. Serve sprinkled with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Can be served cold or at room temperature.
Recommended Products
Foxes Love Lemons, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com. There is no additional cost to you.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 570mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 10g
More tasty corn recipes:
- Mexican Street Corn Salad (Elote) Bar – a create-your-own version of this recipe
- Cheesy Corn Casserole – great for Thanksgiving or Easter.
- Mexican Street Corn Brats – street corn makes an awesome topping for brats!
- Grilled Parmesan Pesto Sweet Corn – kind of an Italian take on elote
- Salsa Verde Elote Bites – an appetizer version of street corn
- Potato Corn Chowder from The Recipe Rebel
- Sweet Corn Fritters from The Cozy Cook
This salad looks so amazing, right up my alley!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for stopping by, Tara!
Oh, Lori, this sounds wonderful!! You’d think that living on the border with Mexico I’d already have this recipe, or something similar. But I don’t, so I’m really glad you posted this. I’m looking forward to making it.
I’m sorry to hear that you have TMJ issues. Mine have fortunately subsided with age, but I’m glad it made me give up gum-chewing, because once I started I couldn’t stop. Does it help to know that I no longer miss it?
Thanks Susan! I just loved this recipe, so much. I couldn’t stop eating it!
Good ol’ TMJ, huh? I’ve been gum free for about 10 years, and it’s definitely gotten easier. Although, sometimes when I see others chew it, I still want a piece 🙁 My husband knows not to chew it around me! Haha.
Sadly, they warn us to not eat at street food carts so I have never actually had a corn salad like this. However, in the town of Tlaquepaque (a touristy scenic area outside of Guadalajara) there are lots of street vendors selling food like this – the smells are amazing. Maybe next trip I can get up the courage to try it.
Do it! Do it!
Really yummy! Used to get Mexican Street Corn at a farmers market in California in the summers. Moved to the east coast and miss it. Loved this recipe and brought it to a party where everyone else loved it too and finished it up.
Oh wow, a farmer’s market with Mexican street corn? That sounds like heaven on Earth, Michelle! So glad this was a hit at the party you took it too 🙂