Esquites Cremosos con Chipotle (Creamy Chipotle Corn Cups)
Charred sweetcorn kernels in a creamy, lime and chipotle dressing, served warm in cups with cheese and coriander.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Elote sauce (street corn crema). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.13 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
Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a high heat until foaming.
- 2
Add the sweetcorn in an even layer. Cook without stirring for 3 minutes until dark golden and charred in places, then stir and cook for 3 minutes more.
6 min - 3
Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- 4
Tip the corn into a bowl. Add your ready made elote sauce (see the base recipe), your ready made chipotle adobo sauce (see the base recipe), the lime juice and salt and toss until coated.
- 5
Spoon into cups or small bowls. Top with the spring onion, crumbled feta and coriander. Serve warm with lime wedges.
Tips
- Dry the corn well and use a very hot pan. Wet corn steams instead of charring, and charred bits give the smoky flavour.
- Add the sauce off the heat so the cream does not split.
- Cotija is not easy to find in the UK. Feta gives the same salty, crumbly finish, or use Parmesan.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten warm and fresh. Keeps covered in the fridge for up to 2 days and is good cold as a salad. Do not freeze.
Questions
What is the difference between esquites and elote?
Elote is corn on the cob. Esquites uses the cut kernels, cooked in a pan and served in a cup with the same creamy, cheesy toppings.
Can I use tinned corn?
Yes, drained and dried very well. Frozen and fresh kernels char better, but tinned corn works in a pinch.
Is it very spicy?
It is medium. Use 20 ml of chipotle sauce for a mild version and serve extra on the side.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Tacos de Pollo con Piña y Chipotle (Pineapple Chipotle Chicken Tacos)
DFEFNFTacos de Salmon al Chipotle (Chipotle Salmon Tacos)
GFEFNFTacos de Lentejas al Chipotle (Smoky Chipotle Lentil Tacos)
VGVDFAlbóndigas de Pavo en Chipotle (Turkey Meatballs in Chipotle Broth)
GFDFNFDouble 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.