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Enjoy the vibrant flavors of Mexican Street Corn Salad in a convenient single serving! This quick and easy recipe is perfect for those cooking for one and delivers authentic Mexican flavors using simple ingredients.
Enjoy your flavorful Mexican Street Corn Salad as a versatile side, perfectly complementing dishes like savory Carne Asada, zesty Chicken Fajitas, or rich Beef Enchiladas for a complete meal. Alternatively, use it as a vibrant topping to enhance Beef Tacos or add an extra zing to a Taco Salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with flavors: Mexican street corn salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish. The combination of sweet corn, tangy lime, creamy mayonnaise, sour cream, and savory cotija cheese creates a taste explosion in every bite.
- Quick and easy: This recipe is perfect for those who want a quick and satisfying meal for one. It’s simple to prepare, requiring minimal cooking time, and can be whipped up in just a few minutes.
- Fresh and healthy ingredients: The salad primarily consists of fresh and wholesome ingredients. It’s a great way to enjoy a nutritious and tasty meal.
- Customizable: Ingredients can be easily adjusted or substituted to cater to personal preferences or dietary needs.
Check out our other Single Serving Salad ideas!
What Is Mexican Street Corn Salad?
Mexican street corn, also known as “esquites”, is a delicious and popular Mexican dish made with sweet corn kernels mixed with a variety of flavorful ingredients. It is a deconstructed version of the traditional Mexican street food called “elote”, which is grilled or boiled corn on the cob coated with mayonnaise, cheese, chili powder, and lime juice. In the salad version, the corn is removed from the cob and combined with a few key ingredients to create a mouthwatering and easy-to-eat dish.
Ingredients
- Butter helps to brown and enrich the flavor of the corn. For a vegan alternative, use olive oil.
- Corn can be fresh, canned, or frozen. If using fresh corn, a single large cob should yield approximately 1 cup of kernels. If you’ve got extra corn, consider using it in Chicken Fried Rice, Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl, or a mini Corn Casserole.
- Cotija cheese is a Mexican cheese that’s slightly salty. If it’s unavailable, you can substitute with feta or Parmesan. Use extra cotija as a topping for Chicken Enchiladas and Peas with Mint.
- Red onions provide a touch of sweetness and color to the salad. If you find their flavor too potent, you can soak the chopped onions in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow the taste. Leftover red onions can be used to make Pickled Onions or added to Cowboy Caviar or Chicken Caprese.
- Cumin is a staple in Mexican cuisine, offering a warm, earthy flavor. It’s a significant contributor to the overall taste profile, but if you’re not a fan, you could reduce the quantity or leave it out entirely.
- Chili powder adds a hint of heat to the salad. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your spice tolerance. Alternatively, you can use smoked paprika for a less spicy but equally flavorful alternative.
- Red bell peppers contribute to the salad’s vibrant color and offer a subtle sweetness. They can be substituted with green or yellow bell peppers for a slightly different flavor profile. Leftover bell peppers can be used in Lo Mein, Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja, and Chicken Tacos.
- Jalapenos introduce a spicy kick to the dish. Remember to remove the seeds and veins if you prefer a milder flavor. For those who can’t handle heat, green bell peppers are a great substitute. Use leftover jalapeños to make a small batch of Jalapeño Poppers or add them to Taco Soup.
- Cilantro brings a fresh and slightly citrusy flavor to the dish. If you’re one of those people for whom cilantro tastes like soap, fresh flat-leaf parsley or even a little mint can be a good alternative.
- To make this salad vegan, replace mayonnaise and sour cream with vegan versions and skip the cheese or use a vegan substitute.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch Mexican Street Corn recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
Recipe Variations
This recipe is highly versatile, and the following variations can cater to different palates and dietary needs:
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad: Mix the corn salad with cooked pasta, such as bowtie or penne, to create a delightful pasta salad version of the dish.
- Grilled Shrimp Corn Salad: Top the salad with grilled or baked shrimp for a complete and flavorful seafood twist. The combination of shrimp and Mexican street corn flavors is a real treat.
- Mango Corn Salad: Incorporate diced fresh mango for a tropical twist on the traditional recipe. The juicy sweetness of mango complements the savory and creamy elements of the salad.
- Chipotle Lime Corn Salad: Create a smokey and tangy profile by adding chipotle chili powder or canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. The chipotle flavor pairs wonderfully with the street corn.
How To Make Mexican Street Corn Salad For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make Mexican corn salad. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Melt butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the corn and chopped jalapeños and cook, stirring occasionally until slightly charred, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer the corn to a medium-sized bowl and add red onions, bell peppers, minced garlic, lime juice, mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, crumbled cotija cheese, and cilantro.
- Stir to combine.
Expert Tips
- Char the Corn: Charring the corn adds a smoky flavor and enhances the overall taste of the salad.
- Experiment with Cheese: While cotija cheese is traditional, you can try other types of Mexican cheese like queso fresco or even feta for a unique twist.
- Add Avocado: For a creamy and buttery element, consider adding diced avocado to the salad. Avocado pairs exceptionally well with the other flavors in the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. Mix all the ingredients together just before serving to keep the salad fresh and crunchy.
While cotija cheese is traditional, you can try other Mexican cheeses like queso fresco or feta for a similar crumbly texture.
You can easily make a vegan version of the salad by using plant-based mayonnaise and sour cream and skipping the cheese. You can also substitute nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
The salad will typically last 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.
You can serve the salad warm, at room temperature, or chilled, depending on your preference.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
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Mexican Street Corn Salad For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon salted butter
- 1 cup corn (use frozen and thawed corn or canned corn that has been rinsed and drained).
- 1 tablespoon minced jalapeños
- ¼ cup chopped red onions
- ¼ cup chopped red bell peppers
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ½ tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- ½ tablespoon sour cream
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder (if you'd like your salad to be a little bit spicier, add an additional ⅛ teaspoon).
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons crumbled Cotija cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Melt butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the corn and chopped jalapeños and cook, stirring occasionally until slightly charred, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer the corn to a medium-sized bowl and add red onions, bell peppers, minced garlic, lime juice, mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, crumbled cotija cheese, and cilantro.
- Stir to combine.
- Pour into a bowl and enjoy.
Notes
- Char the Corn: Charring the corn adds a smoky flavor and enhances the overall taste of the salad.
- Experiment with Cheese: While cotija cheese is traditional, you can try other types of Mexican cheese like queso fresco or even feta for a unique twist.
- Add Avocado: For a creamy and buttery element, consider adding diced avocado to the salad. Avocado pairs exceptionally well with the other flavors in the dish.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This is a great salad. I had some leftover frozen corn & chopped onion from an earlier component prep so I used those. I subbed yogurt for the mayo & sour cream & the sourness was perfect. Thank you fir the summery sunshine on a bleak rainy day!
Loved this very much! But it was a fair amount of prepping for me. But it is a party in your mouth without any screaming individuals! Will definitely do again!
Good recipe.