Mexican Street Corn Elote Recipes

Steps:

• Soak 4 wooden skewers in water, 30 minutes. Preheat a grill to high.
• Insert a skewer into each ear of corn. Brush the corn with vegetable oil. Grill, turning, until charred all over, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Brush the grilled corn with the mayonnaise and sprinkle with the cheese. Sprinkle with chile powder and serve with lime wedges.

Steps:

• Whisk mayonnaise, lime juice, and chili powder together in a bowl until evenly combined. Set aside.
• Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn and cook for 5 minutes without stirring. Toss around with a spatula and cook until corn has started to brown, about 3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• Add reserved mayonnaise mixture and stir until evenly combined. Add cilantro and stir again. Transfer to serving plates and sprinkle cotija cheese over the top.

Steps:

• Grill, roast or broil corn to your liking.
• Spread cooked corn with a thin layer of mayonnaise or sour cream, then roll in cheese to coat.
• Sprinkle with cayenne.
• Squeeze lime juice from wedges to taste. Enjoy!

Steps:

• Start by making the dressing. In a small glass bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with milk and the "Hidden Valley Ranch" seasoning mix, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to 24 hours) -- and away we go! --.
• "Stove-top / Broiling method for Elote": On the stove-top, boil frozen corn on the cob according to package instructions, (or micro-wave, per instructions). If using fresh, remove husks and boil corn in large sauce pan until tender. IMPORTANT: Save about 1/2 c of the water from the boiling process (it contains the starch) for the "Esquites" preparation method.
• While corn is boiling, preheat oven to 500* F with a rack set in middle of oven.
• When the corn is cooked thru, remove the ears of corn to a platter.
• Okay, here is where we can 'part ways' on cooking methods -- but for now, I'm sticking with the stove-top / broiler method for "Elote".
• Now that the corn is cooked, line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Brush each ear of corn with the melted butter, salt and pepper lightly and place on tray (NO chili powder yet).
• Place tray in oven and bake for approx 15 minutes +/-, rotating (rolling) corn often, until all sides are lightly browned. Once you've reached your desired browning, remove the corn to that same platter that we dirtied earlier.
• "Grilled Elote" (the true way): The other alternative is using your grill to brown. If you are starting your corn on the grill, (while skipping the boiling method), be sure to remove silk only, and soak corn in water before grilling. Leave husks on while grilling, until your ready to brown them. when cooked thru, remove husks, brush with melted butter and grill ears, while turning, to desired browning has been achieved.
• (There you have the basics done. Now, were 'parting ways' again -- You can have one cob each that serves 4, or you can cut each cob in half to make 8 small servings. Now, at this point, you can shave the kernels off of the cob using a serrated knife, into a bowl, and "voila", we are now morphing into "Esquites" -- but please wait patiently for that).
• If you want "Elote", leave the cob in tact, slather it with the dressing we made earlier, heavily sprinkle on the grated Parm and add a little minced chives. (Heck, roll it thru them)! Squeeze a wedge of lemon over the whole thing, and add the touch of chili powder (if you so desire). Now your Americanized Ranch version of "Elote" is done.
• "Esquites": You've shaved the kernels off the cob after boiling and browning. Now put the kernels in a bowl, add the desired amount of water that the corn was boiled in (1/4-1/2 c), then throw in a heap of the dressing, cheese and chives and mix well. Squeeze a couple of lemon wedges 'over the top' (only after mixing). Enjoy!
• *** I used the following substitutions to make my "Ranched-up" version vs the traditional:.
• Greek Yogurt, milk & Ranch seasoning = mayo.
• Parmesan cheese = Cotija cheese.
• lemon = lime.

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat or heat a grill pan over medium-high; oil grate or pan. Lightly brush corn with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until tender and well charred, 4-5 minutes per side (16-20 minutes total). Let cool slightly.
• Spread each ear with 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. cheese.