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Authentic Mexican street corn recipe (elote)

Mexican street corn — known as elote callejero or "elote a la mexicana" — is the best-selling street food in Mexico. Cooked corn covered with mayo, crumbled Cotija cheese, chili powder and lime. Spicy, salty, sweet and tangy in every bite. Here's the authentic recipe so you can make it at home or serve it in your restaurant.

Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
Servings
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy

About Mexican street corn

Mexican street corn was born in the streets of Mexico City as an evolution of the traditional esquites. What started as boiled corn with salt in food carts evolved in the 1970s into the "complete" version we know today: corn + mayo + Cotija cheese + chili powder + lime. It's one of the most-sold snacks in Mexico besides tacos, and is becoming a must-have on Mexican restaurant menus in Spain.

The key to great Mexican street corn lies in 2 ingredients: the corn (should be sweet, fresh, not canned) and the authentic Cotija cheese (not Parmesan or feta). The rest are accessories that bring the signature: creamy mayo, spicy chili powder and freshly squeezed lime.

Ingredients for 4 servings

Step-by-step instructions

Prep the corn
Husk the corn cobs removing all the leaves and silks. If they're large, cut them in half for easier serving.
Cook the corn
In a large pot with boiling salted water, cook the cobs 12-15 minutes until tender but firm. More authentic alternative: grill them directly 8-10 minutes turning every 2 minutes for light charring.
Spread the mayo
Remove cobs from water or grill. While still hot, spread a generous tablespoon of mayonnaise all over the surface using a brush or spoon.
Cover with Cotija
Sprinkle crumbled Cotija cheese all over the corn surface — it should be FULLY covered. Press lightly so the cheese adheres to the mayo.
Add chili and lime
Sprinkle chili powder on top to taste. Squeeze half a lime over each cob right before serving.
Serve immediately
Mexican street corn is meant to be eaten at once, hot. Serve with skewers and napkins — it's hands-on food and that's part of the experience.
Pro tip
The Cotija secret: the cheese must be authentic Mexican, not Parmesan or feta. Cotija has a specific salty-dairy profile no substitute replicates. In Spain, the Corazón de Leche brand makes it with Mexican recipe — available at El Corte Inglés and via MercaMX for hospitality.

Mexican street corn variants

There are three main variants by Mexican region:

For restaurant service in Spain, we recommend the classic CDMX (red) — it's the most recognized by Spanish customers and the most "Instagrammable". Cost per cob: ~€1.20 raw materials, menu sale €4-6. Margin 75%+.

For Mexican restaurants in Spain

Mexican street corn requires authentic Cotija cheese. Ask for B2B Corazón de Leche pricing — 24-48h delivery with cold chain.

View Cotija →

More recipes and guides

Frequently asked questions

What cheese is used in authentic Mexican street corn?
Cotija cheese — the "Mexican Parmesan". It's a hard, salty, crumbly cheese with a specific Mexican dairy profile. It can't be substituted with Italian Parmesan (different flavor profile) or Greek feta (too acidic). In Spain, the Corazón de Leche brand makes it with authentic Mexican recipe.
How long does Mexican street corn take to make?
20 minutes total: 5 minutes prep + 15 minutes cooking/grilling. If you grill on the BBQ instead of boiling, it drops to 10-12 minutes cooking.
Can I use canned sweet corn?
Not recommended. Traditional Mexican street corn uses fresh cobs (sweet corn is not the same). If you only have canned corn, make esquites (kerneled corn in a cup) instead — the final result is closer to authentic.
Is it vegetarian? Vegan?
Vegetarian yes (no meat). Vegan no due to mayo (egg) and cheese. For vegan version substitute mayo with vegan aioli and omit cheese (or use vegan cheese if you find one with salty profile).
What chili powder do I use?
Ideally Mexican chili piquin powder or Tajin (Mexican blend of chili, salt and dehydrated lime). If you can't find these, use Spanish hot paprika + a touch of salt — not identical but gives the right profile.
Order it for your venue

Want to add queso Cotija to your menu?

B2B distribution in Spain with 24-72h delivery. Order online by WhatsApp or browse our local catalog by city.

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