Elote Asado (Mexican Grilled Street Corn)
Charred corn on the cob brushed with tangy, cheesy elote sauce and dusted with chilli, the way it is sold from street carts.
Made with Elote sauce (street corn crema). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.57 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make the elote sauce first if you have not already (see the base recipe). Heat a barbecue, griddle pan or grill to high.
- 2
Brush the corn lightly with the oil. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every few minutes, until the kernels are tender and charred in patches.
14 min - 3
Leave the cobs to cool for 1 minute so you can hold them.
- 4
Brush each cob generously all over with your ready made elote sauce, using about 25 ml per cob.
- 5
Roll or sprinkle the cobs in the crumbled feta, dust with chilli powder and serve straight away with lime wedges to squeeze over.
Tips
- Char the corn properly. The blistered, smoky patches are what the creamy sauce is balancing.
- Cotija is the traditional cheese. Feta gives the same salty crumble, so crumble it very finely so it sticks.
- No barbecue? Cook the cobs under a very hot grill, turning often, or in a hot cast iron griddle pan.
- Serve a stick in the end of each cob for a street cart look and a clean hand.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Cool leftover cooked corn within 1 hour and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days, with the sauce kept separate. Do not freeze the sauced corn.
Questions
Can I use frozen corn on the cob?
Yes. Defrost it fully, pat it dry, then grill or griddle it for 10 minutes until charred. Dry kernels char better than wet ones.
What is the difference between elote and esquites?
Elote is the whole cob on a stick, esquites is the same flavours with the kernels cut off and served in a cup. This sauce suits both.
How do I make elote less messy?
Cut the kernels off the cob after grilling, then toss them in the sauce and serve in cups with a spoon.
More made with elote sauce (street corn crema)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.