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Best Grilled Elote Corn Salad for a Perfect Labor Day

grilled elote corn salad - featured image
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This smoky, creamy, tangy elote corn salad is the perfect Labor Day dish. It comes together in under 30 minutes, feeds a crowd, and tastes like summer on a plate.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 ears fresh corn on the cob, husked
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Mexican crema
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 3 green onions, sliced thin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions

  1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Husk the corn and remove all the silk. Run the ears under cold water to help remove any stubborn silk strands. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
  3. Grill the corn for 10-12 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes, until charred on all sides and tender.
  4. Let the corn cool slightly, just until you can handle it (about 5 minutes).
  5. While the corn cools, make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Mexican crema, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
  6. Cut the kernels off the cobs. Stand each ear upright on the cutting board and run your knife down the sides, cutting close to the cob.
  7. Add the warm corn to a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over it and toss gently to coat.
  8. Add the cotija cheese, cilantro, jalapeño, red bell pepper, and green onions. Fold everything together until evenly distributed.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lime juice, chili powder, or salt if needed.
  10. Let the salad sit for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

Don’t add the cheese too early if making ahead; the salt can draw moisture out of the corn. For best results, cut kernels off while corn is still warm. Toast spices in a dry skillet for 30 seconds to deepen flavor. Make dressing up to 2 days in advance.

Nutrition

Keywords: elote corn salad, grilled corn salad, Labor Day recipe, summer salad, Mexican street corn salad

Find it online: https://juliamadeit.com/best-grilled-elote-corn-salad-for-a-perfect-labor-day/