
Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites-style)
A creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy salad inspired by Mexican Esquites, featuring corn, cotija cheese, and lime.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Servings
4
Vegan option available (see notes)
Ingredients
- Corn Kernels: 4 cups (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- Olive Oil: 1 tbsp (or butter)
- Mayonnaise: 1/4 cup
- Cotija Cheese: 1/2 cup, crumbled (or Feta as substitute)
- Cilantro: 1/4 cup, chopped
- Red Onion: 1/4 cup, finely diced
- Jalapeño: 1 small, minced (optional, seeds removed for less heat)
- Lime Juice: 2 tbsp, fresh (from 1 lime)
- Chilli Powder: 1/2 tsp (or to taste)
- Salt: to taste
Preparation Steps
- If using fresh corn, grill or boil cobs, then cut kernels off. If frozen, thaw completely.
- Heat olive oil (or butter) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until lightly charred and tender. Let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the charred corn, mayonnaise, crumbled cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, diced red onion, and minced jalapeño (if using).
- Stir in fresh lime juice and chili powder.
- Season with salt to taste. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
- Serve warm or chilled. Garnish with extra cotija and chili powder if desired.
Notes
For a vegan version, use vegan mayonnaise and a vegan cheese alternative. Sour cream or Mexican crema can be used in place of some or all of the mayonnaise.