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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Mexican Street Corn in a Cup (Esquites)

    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup (Esquites)

    July 4, 2020 by Tiffany Leave a Comment

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    This is a recipe for Mexican Street Corn in a Cup (esquites) with whole kernel sweet corn, mayonnaise, and sprinkled with chili powder, cotija cheese, and tortilla strips served in a bowl or cup.

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    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup

    Mexican street corn in a cup is a twist on the traditional dish that is usually served on the cob after being grilled. The grilled on-the-cob version is called elote in Spanish, which means “corn.”

    Esquites is the off-the-cob version served as a salad in a bowl.

    Esquites are also typically boiled in a large pot, sometimes with a broth.

    They’re served with chopped onion, fried green chile, chicken, and topped with lime juice and mayo or sour cream, cotija, chile, and salt.

    Both elote and esquites are Mexican street-fare that have become popular and trendy all over the world.

    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup (Esquites)

    Here in Iowa, it is served at the Iowa State Fair at the Corn Stand where you can find a variety of corn in a cup versions:

    • Chinese Sweet Corn Cup: Chinese barbecue pork, walnuts, sesame seeds, Chinese five-spice sauce, shredded daikon radish, and crispy wontons
    • Mexican Street Corn Cup: Pork chorizo, chayote cheese, mayo, lime juice, cilantro, sour cream, and chili powder
    • The Duke Corn Cup: Smoked sausage, BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese, pork rinds, and chives
    • Iowan Street Corn Cup: Pork sausage, cheddar cheese, mayo, butter, lime, and chili powder

    Easy Mexican Street Corn in a Cup Ingredients

    • Whole Kernel Sweet Corn (I used canned corn, but you can of course grill or boil corn on the cob and cut the kernels off.)
    • Butter
    • Mayonnaise
    • Chili Powder
    • Cotija Cheese
    • Lime
    • Crispy Tortilla Strips

    If you have difficulties finding cotija powdered cheese, the closest thing to another powdered cheese is Parmesan.

    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup (Esquites)

    How do you make Mexican street corn in a cup?

    • This recipe is using canned corn but grilled or boiled corn on the cob can be used too. Simply cut the kernels off the cob in a vertical fashion.
    • I recommend using 3-4 ears of corn or two 15.25 oz cans of whole kernel sweet corn. One medium-sized ear gives about ¾ cup of corn kernels.
    • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add corn and stir until heated through.
    • Remove from the heat and stir in mayonnaise.
    • Squeeze fresh lime juice over each serving, followed by tortilla strips, sprinkles of cotija cheese, and chili powder.
    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup (Esquites)

    Recommended Recipes

    • Chicken Flautas
    • Chorizo Queso with Flour Tortilla Chips
    • Corn and Black Bean Salsa
    • Fish Tacos with Spicy Slaw
    • Mexican Black Beans
    • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Enjoy!

    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup

    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup

    Mexican Street Corn in a Cup with whole kernel sweet corn, mayonnaise, and sprinkled with chili powder, cotija cheese, and tortilla strips served in a bowl or cup. Can be served as a main dish or side.
    No ratings yet
    Print Rate
    Course: Side Dishes
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Author: Tiffany

    Ingredients

    • 2 15.25 oz cans Whole Kernel Sweet Corn
    • 2 tablespoons Butter
    • 4 tablespoons Mayonnaise
    • Chili Powder
    • Cotija Cheese
    • 1 Lime, cut into 6 wedges
    • Crispy Tortilla Strips

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a saucepan and add corn. Stir to combine until corn is heated through. Remove from heat and stir in mayonnaise.
    • For each serving, serve with a squeeze of lime juice, a sprinkle of chili powder, cotija cheese, and crispy tortilla strips on top.

    Recommended Products

    Wooden Spoons
    1-Quart Non-Stick Sauce Pan

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn referral fees from products I love and recommend at no extra cost to you.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 136 kcalCarbohydrates: 8 gProtein: 1 gFat: 12 gSaturated Fat: 4 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7 gCholesterol: 15 mgSodium: 205 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 2 g
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    Filed Under: 30-Minute Dinners, Kid-Friendly Recipes, Main Dishes, Mexican Recipes, One-Pot Meals, Side Dishes, Summer Recipes

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    About Me

    Welcome, I'm Tiffany! My love for cooking began in the kitchen with my grandmother at the age of 5. Some of the recipes have been passed down to me and others I create as I go. Simply Happenings was created to share quick and delicious meals for your family highlighting air fryer and Instant Pot recipes. Enjoy! Read More…

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