Description
Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites) is a quick and flavorful dish featuring charred sweet corn kernels tossed with a tangy, creamy dressing and topped with fresh herbs and cheeses. Perfect as a side dish or a party favorite, this salad combines bold Mexican-inspired flavors with simple ingredients to create a vibrant and delicious addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons real mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Salad
- 3 cups sweet corn kernels (cut off the cobs)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 cup freshly chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1/2 cup green onions (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 cup red onion (chopped)
- 1 jalapeño pepper (seeded and chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup Cojita cheese (crumbled)
Instructions
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, combine lime juice, mayonnaise, ground cumin, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Use a hand whisk to mix until well incorporated and the mayonnaise is mostly dissolved. Set the dressing aside or refrigerate if making ahead.
- Cook Corn: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once hot, add corn kernels and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until some kernels are nicely charred. Then turn off the heat.
- Combine Ingredients: Add parmesan cheese, chopped cilantro, red bell pepper, green onions, red onion, jalapeño, and garlic powder to the skillet with corn. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Dressing and Cheese: Toss the corn mixture with the prepared dressing until fully coated. Finally, sprinkle crumbled Cojita cheese over the top.
- Serve: Serve the Mexican Street Corn Salad at room temperature or chilled, as desired.
Notes
- This salad is perfect for parties, potlucks, or casual lunches due to its bold and exciting flavors.
- Make the dressing ahead of time and refrigerate for convenience.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute Cojita cheese with feta cheese if Cojita is unavailable.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of jalapeño or omit the seeds.
- Freshly charred corn is key for authentic flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 95 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 274 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
