Elote en Vaso - Mexican Elote in A Cup Recipe

Elote, otherwise known as Mexican street corn, is a delicious savory appetizer or side dish which brings the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine right into your kitchen. When I booked my first trip to Mexico, I knew right away I would had to track down a good elote seller on the street. And when I had my first taste of this legendary Mexican recipe, I knew I was hooked. 

While everyone knows the good old Mexican corn-on-the-cob, elote en vaso is appealing because it is presented in a cup, making it a perfect portable snack or party food. It's actually the most common way to see Mexican corn sold on the streets, because it's so easy to grab and go. It also makes for a delicious corn dip with tortilla chips!

My mini elote cups are easy to make, and the recipe uses authentic Mexican ingredients like cotija cheese and Cholula hot sauce, making this taste as close to the Mexican street corn I ate in Mexico City.

Elote is Mexican style corn on the cob that is grilled, smothered with mayonnaise and spices, and then served as a popular street food. It is often consumed at festivals, but it holds much more meaning to Mexican culture than most people know. 

Corn was once a staple food for the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. In the pre-Colombian times, the Aztecs and Mayans cultivated and revered corn, and it became a fundamental ingredient in the indigenous diet. 

As times moved forward, the people of Mexico brought with them the traditional preparation of grilling corn on an open fire to modern day, using it in various recipes and celebrations. Take my Halloween skeleton elote recipe for example  - A Mexican themed Halloween corn on the cob recipe sure to bring the spooky to your party!

• Frozen corn: Making for a speedier process than using fresh corn on the cob (if you like fresh corn on the cob, try my easy fresh corn soup!).. In Mexico, elote is made using fresh corn. The corn kernels are cut from the cob and then cooked in a giant bowl. You can use canned or frozen corn, but frozen corn tastes better. 
• Butter: Used to smother over the corn before baking.
• Mayonnaise: The simple yet famous ingredient which makes for a creamy elote!
• Sour cream: A staple in the Mexican diet - used as our base for the creamy mixture.
• Elote seasoning: The perfect blend of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt used to sprinkle over our elote mix.
• Cholula hot sauce: Crafted in Mexico, this premium hot sauce is a recipe that has been passed down for over 100 years. Made from a blend of peppers and regional spices, it has a complex flavor that delivers balanced heat.
• Cotija cheese: This is a firm and salty Mexican cheese made from cow's milk. The closest 'familiar' cheese would be feta, however Cotija cheese is generally a harder texture. For this recipe, the cheese will be crumbled on top of our elote cup for added flavor. 
• Fresh cilantro: This vibrant, flat green herb is another staple in Mexican cuisine. It adds a slight sharpness to our corn in a cup which compliments the creaminess of the mayo mix.
• Lime: For garnishing
• Jalapeño slices: For an additional kick of heat. 

Exact quantities are below in the ingredient card

First, preheat oven to 400°F.

While the oven is heating, toss the frozen corn with the melted butter in a bowl and ensure all the corn is covered.

Next, spread the buttered corn on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway, until lightly browned and roasted.

Once cooked, transfer the roasted buttered corn to a serving dish or cup and drizzle with the mayo-sour cream mixture.

Next, sprinkle with the elote seasoning and Cholula hot sauce. Top with crumbled cotija cheese, jalapeno slices and chopped cilantro and then garnish with your lime wedges.

Serve this authentic Mexican recipe for your next taco night or Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Some of my other favorite Mexican recipes include Tostones (Fried green plantains) which are the perfect crunchy snack food, and my gluten free, sweet and spicy Mexican cornbread.

Want another way to try corn? Give my Middle Eastern grilled corn recipe a try. And for drinks, pair this delicious appetizer with a spicy jalapeno pineapple margarita mocktail.