Ingredients
Corn
- 4 cups sweet corn kernels fresh or frozen
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 0.5 small white onion finely chopped
- 0.5 serrano chile minced; optional
- 2 cups water
- 1 small epazote sprig optional
- 0.25 teaspoon fine salt or to taste
Toppings
- 4 teaspoons mayonnaise commercial
- 0.25 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- 0.25 teaspoon chile piquin powder or to taste
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Knife and cutting board
- Ladle
- Four heat-safe cups
Instructions
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and optional serrano and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened, stirring frequently.
- Add corn kernels and stir for 2 minutes. Pour in water and add optional epazote and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat and partially cover.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet corn is tender. Frozen corn may need a little additional time to heat through. Add a small splash of water if the pan gets dry; retain some broth.
- Remove the epazote sprig. Taste the corn and broth before adding more salt, remembering that Cotija is salty.
- Ladle corn and a little broth into four heat-safe cups. Top each with 1 teaspoon mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon Cotija, a squeeze of lime and a little chile piquin. Serve warm with spoons.
- Refrigerate corn and toppings separately within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Keep at 40°F or below and use within 3–4 days. Reheat corn to 165°F, then add the cold toppings.
Video
Notes
Contains milk and usually egg from mayonnaise. This recipe is written for US sweet corn, which is sweeter and more tender than the corn often used by Mexican street vendors. Epazote can be omitted if unavailable.
Cost is a rough US grocery planning estimate for quantities used, not a live store quote: corn $3–4.50; butter, onion, chile and epazote $0.75–1.25; mayonnaise, cheese, lime and seasoning $1.25–2.25.
Video credit: Jauja Cocina Mexicana, Esquites de Elote, demonstrates the warm corn-cup method. This written version uses measured sweet corn and lighter toppings; corn type, quantities and timing may differ.