Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

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 Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
Votes: 1
Rating: 4
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 4
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add corn kernels, season to taste with salt, toss once or twice, and cook without moving until charred on one side, about 2 minutes. Toss corn, stir, and repeat until charred on second side, about 2 minutes longer. Continue tossing and charring until well charred all over, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a large bowl.
  2. **If you use canned corn: Add 2 to 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil to a sauté pan. Pour in the canned corn. Cook over medium heat until the corn turns a light brown color. It will take about five minutes for the corn to brown.
  3. Don’t stir the corn more than once. It can be tempting to stir but roasted corn should sit in the pan to cook. If you must stir the corn, let it sit for three minutes, stir it once, then let it sit until a light brown.
  4. In a serving bowl, toss corn with mayo, cotija, lime juice, cilantro, and chili powder. Season generously with salt.
  5. Top with more cotija, cilantro, and a sprinkle of chile powder.
Recipe Notes

This is really good!  Be careful with the chili powder, it matures after it sits, so it may not taste like enough to start with, but give it a bit first.

Feta really does work equally well.

If you eat this right away, ti's really good.  But if you let is sit for half hour or more, the chili powder really matures, and is a bit overpowering.  I changed the chili powder from the original recipe from 1 Tbsp to 1/2 Tbsp (1 1/2 tsp), and then I would suggest sprinkling just a bit over top on your plate.  Enjoy!

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Nutrition Facts
Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 221 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 9g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 579mg 24%
Potassium 47mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 5g
Protein 4g 8%
Vitamin A 10%
Vitamin C 5%
Calcium 6%
Iron 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Posted on by Cindy Randolph

Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 ears fresh corn, shucked, kernels removed (about 4 cups fresh corn kernels)**
  • 1/2 c. mayonnaise
  • 1/4 c. cotija cheese or feta, plus more for garnish
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder, plus more for garnish
  • kosher salt

 

Directions

Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add corn kernels, season to taste with salt, toss once or twice, and cook without moving until charred on one side, about 2 minutes. Toss corn, stir, and repeat until charred on second side, about 2 minutes longer. Continue tossing and charring until well charred all over, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a large bowl.

In a serving bowl, toss corn with mayo, cotija, lime juice, cilantro, and chili powder. Season generously with salt.

Top with more cotija, cilantro, and a sprinkle of chile powder.

**If you use canned corn:

Roast corn is a delicious addition to a salad, chili, chowder or spicy meat dish. The best way to roast corn is on the ear but you can get the same taste by using canned corn. Roast corn is traditionally made in the oven but canned corn will end up burning since it is already cooked. You can create the same roast corn taste by sautéing the corn in a little olive oil on the stove. Canned corn will roast faster so be sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

  • Add 2 to 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil to a sauté pan.
  • Pour in the canned corn.
  • Cook over medium heat until the corn turns a light brown color. It will take about five minutes for the corn to brown. Serve on its own or mix it in another dish.

Don’t stir the corn more than once. It can be tempting to stir but roasted corn should sit in the pan to cook. If you must stir the corn, let it sit for three minutes, stir it once, then let it sit until a light brown.

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