Mexican Street Corn Salad (Printable)

Tangy corn, creamy lime dressing, Cotija, and fresh herbs for a vibrant Mexican-style summer side.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 5 ears of corn or frozen and thawed)
02 - 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
03 - 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
04 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
05 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

→ Dressing

06 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
07 - 1/4 cup sour cream
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
09 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese & Garnish

13 - 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (plus extra for serving)
14 - Lime wedges, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred in spots, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Add charred corn, diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro to the dressing. Toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Gently fold in the crumbled Cotija cheese.
05 - Transfer to a serving dish. Top with extra Cotija cheese and garnish with lime wedges. Serve immediately at room temperature or chill for 30 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Charring the corn in a skillet means smoky, toasty flavors all year long—even without a grill.
  • Salty Cotija cheese and creamy dressing give it an addictive richness friends always ask about.
02 -
  • Once, I mixed the Cotija while the corn was still hot—the cheese melted away, so let the corn cool first for the best texture.
  • Fresh lime juice truly cannot be faked; trying bottled once made the salad taste flat and I never made that mistake again.
03 -
  • Hold off on adding the cheese until everything else’s cooled to keep those creamy crumbles prominent.
  • Rub a cut lime around the rim of your serving bowl and dust with chili powder for a street food look (and a tiny flavor bonus).
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