Description
Grilled Mexican Street Corn is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring sweet corn grilled to perfection and topped with a creamy, tangy sauce made from Mexican crema, mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, and lime, finished with crumbly cotija cheese and a sprinkle of chipotle pepper. It’s a perfect side or snack with a smoky char and zesty kick.
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
- Prepare the grill: Heat a gas or charcoal grill to 400°F. Once hot, clean the grates thoroughly.
- Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the Mexican crema, mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, ground chipotle pepper, lime zest, and lime juice. Taste and season with salt carefully as the crema and cotija cheese already contain some salt. Set the sauce aside.
- Grill the corn: Place the husked ears of corn directly onto the hot grill grates. Grill undisturbed for about 3 minutes until the kernels begin to turn golden brown and develop a smoky char. Rotate and continue grilling until all sides are evenly browned, then remove from the grill onto a plate.
- Assemble the corn: Using a brush or spoon, generously coat each ear of corn with the prepared crema sauce. Sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese over the top. Add an extra sprinkle of chipotle pepper if desired.
- Serve: Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the corn for extra brightness and flavor.
Notes
- Husk the corn completely before grilling to achieve a good char and smoky flavor.
- If Mexican crema is not available, you can substitute with sour cream for a similar tangy texture.
- Add chipotle pepper incrementally to adjust the spice level to your preference.
- Use fresh lime zest and juice for the most vibrant citrus flavor.
- Grilling times may vary slightly based on grill heat and corn size; look for golden-brown kernels and char marks as cues.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the contrast of warm grilled corn with the cool creamy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
