Street-Style Mexican Elote Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-08 · Updated 2026-06-08

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

This creamy and tangy Mexican corn salad combines grilled corn with cotija cheese, fresh lime, and chili powder for a crowd-pleasing side dish. This Mexican-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 17 minutes, pairs fresh corn kernels, 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 180 calories and feeds 6, 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 7 min Serves 6 Mexican cuisine 180 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 cups (from about 6 ears) fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 cups fresh corn kernels and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the kernels are lightly charred and fragrant.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Add the warm charred corn kernels to the bowl along with 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Toss gently to combine and coat every kernel.
Step 4: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or lime juice if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature as a popular Mexican street-food inspired salad.