“Elote en vaso” directly translated, means “corn in glass (or cup).” It is also commonly called “Esquites” (pronounced: es-kee-tes). This tasty treat hits all of the same notes as Mexican street corn: sweet corn mixed with creamy mayo, tangy lime and chili seasoning, and topped with a sprinkle of queso fresco and cilantro. But this dish is made in individual casserole cups instead of on a skewer—so you can enjoy it anywhere! This recipe makes it easy to customize your Mexican Street Corn by using any toppings you like best—and since they’re all available in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores, they’ll stay fresh until you’re ready to eat them! We know you can’t get enough of sweet, delicious corn. Elote in a cup is the perfect snack, appetizer, or side dish for any Mexican-inspired meal. And the best part? You can make it in less than 15 minutes. No shucking or grilling required!
Here’s What You Need
The great thing about this Mexican elote recipe is that you can make them as easy or as involved as you would like! You can keep it simple by using frozen corn or use fresh corn on the cob for a more authentic flavor. Totally up to you!
Sugar – just a couple of tablespoons. Trust me it’s a game changer Frozen corn kernels- see below for tips if you want to use fresh corn on the cob for this recipe Mayonnaise – Best Foods (or Hellmann’s) is my favorite! Sour cream – can also substitute plain Greek yogurt Lime salt – this is optional. But it tastes so good! If you can’t find lime salt, use fresh lime juice or stir in a crystalized lime packet. Cotija cheese – queso fresco or Mexican crema works great too! Fresh cilantro – add a tablespoon of chopped cilantro, or more to taste Chili powder – Just a dusting of chile powder can also be used as a beautiful garnish. Garnish with one lime cut into wedges Tajin (optional) – Use Tajin powder in place of the lime salt and chili powder. Tajin is simply a mix of lime powder, chili powder, and salt so it can easily be used a a substitute for these ingredients.
Where to Find Mexican Street Corn in a Cup
The first time I ever had Elote en Vaso was in Quintana Rio Mexico, near Tulum. The corn was grilled fresh and served in a paper cup with the rest of the ingredients. It seemed like such a simple dish but the flavors were out of this world! A few years later when I was at Disneyland I was thrilled to find the dish at the Cozy Cone Restaurant at Disney’s California Adventure. Since then, I have been so excited to see these corn cups on the menu at many of my favorite Mexican restaurants. It has become an increasingly popular menu item in the United States but it can also be easily made at home! It’s a perfect side dish to chicken, burritos, rice and black beans, tacos, and more!
Tips and Suggestions
A lot of you have written in some tips and suggestions you’ve made, so we want to share those with our readers as well. Here are some more ideas to spoon on more flavor!
If you want to go all-out and actually grill FRESH corn for this recipe, you absolutely can. You can use our recipe for Grilled Mexican Street Corn, or our Grilled Corn on the Cob, or use the kernels from fresh, perfect corn on the cob recipe. Use a grill pan or the outdoor grill. After grilling or boiling the corn, you can use a sharp knife and cut the kernels into a large bowl and follow the rest of the recipe below as directed. You can also roast the corn husks in the oven. Give it more of a sautéed flavor by cooking the corn in a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little garlic and vegetable oil or butter. If you like a little char, cook the corn in a non-stick skillet without oil until it becomes lightly charred.
Classic Elote (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)
Love elote in a cup but want to try the read deal on the cob? Sometimes you just can’t beat Mexican street corn fresh off the grill on a wooden skewer. If you have a little more time and want to try the classic, try our Grilled Mexican Street Corn recipe! We walk you through, step-by-step, how to make Mexican street corn the traditional way!
Storing the Leftovers
Storing leftover elotes in a cup is a breeze! READ MORE: 75+ Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas
More Delicious Corn Recipes
Can’t get enough delicious corn in your life? Same here! That’s why we’ve gathered together some of our favorite corn recipes you can try: Crockpot Creamed CornKorean Corn CheeseCorn ChowderSweet Corn CakeChipotle Corn SalsaGrilled Corn SaladCreamy Corn Dip We want to hear from you! Please leave a review. Rate and Review
