Charred Street-Style Mexican Elote Salad
Grilled corn kernels tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing with fresh cilantro and crumbled cheese, capturing authentic Mexican street food flavors. This Mexican-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 22 minutes, pairs fresh corn on the cob, husked, mayonnaise, sour cream into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 ears fresh corn on the cob, husked
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush 4 ears of husked fresh corn with 1 tbsp vegetable oil and grill for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until kernels are charred in spots.
- Step 2: Remove the corn from the grill and use a sharp knife to cut the kernels off the cobs into a large mixing bowl.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 3 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until smooth.
- Step 4: Pour the dressing over the grilled corn kernels and toss to coat evenly.
- Step 5: Fold in 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately as a vibrant side or light salad.









