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Flavorful Grilled Street Corn Salad Recipe Easy Mexican Esquites Guide

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A vibrant and easy-to-make Mexican esquites recipe featuring smoky grilled corn kernels mixed with creamy mayo, cotija cheese, lime, and spices for a bold and comforting street corn salad.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 ears of corn, husked
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
  • Juice of 1 large lime
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (preferably ancho chili powder)
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Salt to taste (start with 1/2 teaspoon)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 1 small jalapeño, finely diced

Instructions

  1. Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (around 400°F).
  2. Husk the corn and remove the silk threads. Rinse and pat dry.
  3. Place the corn directly on the grill grates. Turn every 2-3 minutes to get an even char all around, grilling for about 10-12 minutes until golden-brown with some blackened spots.
  4. Remove the corn and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Cut the kernels off the cob into a large mixing bowl.
  5. Add mayonnaise, Mexican crema (or sour cream), cotija cheese, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Add jalapeño if using.
  6. Mix everything gently but thoroughly to coat the corn kernels evenly.
  7. Stir in the fresh cilantro last to preserve its color and flavor.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra lime juice or salt if needed.
  9. Serve immediately or chill for 15-20 minutes to let flavors meld. The salad is delicious warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For a vegan version, substitute mayonnaise with vegan mayo or blended silken tofu and use nutritional yeast or vegan cheese instead of cotija. If no grill is available, broil the corn or pan-roast in a cast-iron skillet. Add jalapeño or hot sauce for extra heat. Avoid freezing as mayo and cheese do not freeze well. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to three days.

Nutrition

Keywords: grilled street corn salad, esquites, Mexican corn salad, grilled corn recipe, easy corn salad, smoky corn salad, cotija cheese, summer side dish

Find it online: https://clunkcook.com/flavorful-grilled-street-corn-salad-recipe-easy-mexican-esquites-guide/