Mexican Street Corn (Elotes Mexicanos) Compound Butter

With this creamy, cheesy, herb-infused Mexican Street Corn Compound Butter, making "Elotes Mexicanos" is a snap! It's always ready in the fridge, so all you need to do is cook the corn and slather it on! 

Jump to:

• What is Elote Mexicanos?
• What Goes into this Recipe
• How to Make this Recipe
• FAQs & Expert Tips
• Related Recipes
• Mexican Street Corn (Elotes Mexicanos) Compound Butter

What is Elote Mexicanos?

Have you ever had Mexican Street Corn? If you have, you know what a creamy, cheesy, herb-infused mouthful of deliciousness it is! (If you haven't - well, it's high time you try it, because you are going to love it!)

Corn-on-the-cob is a popular street food in Mexico, where it is known as elote (literally, corn cob). It is typically made by grilling corn and then slathering it with a creamy base layer, along with crumbled cotija cheese, spices, and fresh herbs.

Fresh, grilled corn-on-the-cob is a summer luxury and one of our favorite things, and this savory compound butter makes "Elotes Mexicanos" a snap to make! The compound butter takes just 10 minutes to put together, and then it's ready in the fridge whenever you want it. All you need to do is cook the corn and paint it on!

What Goes into this Recipe

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

★ Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter for this compound butter recipe. If you use unsalted butter, add an additonal ¼-teaspoon of salt.

★ Roasted Garlic: This elotes butter is delicious, but oven-roasted garlic adds another amazing layer of flavor, and we can't get enough of it.

Completely optional, but totally worth the effort. 

★ Cotija: Cotija cheese is a firm, crumbly Mexican cow’s-milk cheese. Use it if you can find it. A fifty-fifty mix of feta and parmesan makes an acceptable substitute, but it really isn't the same.

★ Cilantro / Coriander: Use the leaves and stems of the coriander plant. 

In many places around the world, coriander refers to both the green leaves of the coriander plant, and to the spice derived from the seeds of the plant. 

In North America, cilantro is most often the name given to the leaves and stalks of the plant. (The word “cilantro” is the Spanish name for coriander leaves.) 

★ Lime juice & zest: Fresh is always best! (But frozen works just as well!) 

TIP: Before peeling or juicing, we zest nearly every piece of citrus that comes through our kitchen. Tightly wrapped in a reusable snack-size bag, citrus zest will keep in the freezer for up to three months, and it's always ready when we need it!

★ Corn: Buy corn as fresh as possible and use it fast. (My Dad used to say that if you want corn to be at its sweetest, it should still be on the stalk when the water starts boiling on the stove.)

How to Make this Recipe

Compound Butter

Combine all ingredients in a bowl or molcajetes (large stone mortar and pestle).

Use a pestle (or the back of a wooden spoon) to mash the ingredients together until they form a cohesive paste.

I really like what the pestle does for this elotes butter recipe. Not only does it effectively mix the ingredients, but it bruises the cilantro and lemon zest as it does so, releasing even more flavor into the compound butter mixture. 

Once the compound butter is thoroughly mixed, place it on a square of plastic wrap, parchment, or waxed paper. Using the wrap, form the compound butter into a small cylinder.

A cardboard bathroom tissue roll is very helpful here: carefully pull the wrapped butter through the center for a perfect-sized cylinder.

Refrigerate the compound butter until firm enough to slice.

NOTE: We usually refrigerate the butter inside the tissue tube so that it doesn't settle in the fridge. 

At this point, you can make elotes immediately, or you can refrigerate the compound butter until you are ready to use it. 

This Mexican Street Corn Compound Butter can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Cook Corn

When you are ready to eat, prep your corn. 

Our favorite way to make this Mexican Street Corn recipe is to grill the corn on the barbecue. 

This is as simple as heating up the grill and throwing the corn on. Using tongs, turn it occasionally until it is tender.

If you'd rather cook your corn on the stovetop, simply bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shucked, trimmed corn and cook just until the water returns to a boil. (About 5 minutes.)

TIP: If your corn isn't quite as sweet as you'd like, add about ¼ cup of white sugar to the water and allow it to dissolve before adding the corn.

Use tongs to remove the corn from the water, and allow it to cool for a few minutes to avoid burning your fingers.

Now you're ready to baste it with elotes compound butter!

When the corn is ready, cut a ¼-inch slice of compound butter for each ear and slather it over the hot corn. 

FAQs & Expert Tips

What to Serve with Mexican Street Corn

Elotes is a delicious side dish, and goes with just about anything! We like especially to eat it with fish tacos, fajitas, sloppy Joes, chili, and Nashville Hot Chicken!

Other Ways to Use Elotes Compound Butter

• Melt it over chicken, fish, or pork.
• Add it to pasta or rice for a quick, easy side.
• Garnish a baked potato. (OMG. So good!)
• Spread it on a slice of hearty bread or baguette.

Related Recipes

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Originally published August 26, 2014. Post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions to improve reader experience.