Mexican Street Corn in a Cup

Prep Time	10 minutes
Cook Time	10 minutes
Total Time	20 minutes
Skill Intensity	Beginner (Low Complexity)
Cooking Heat Intensity	High Heat (Pan-Searing / Charring)
Flavor Intensity	Bold (Smoky, Creamy, Tangy, Spicy)
Yield	4 servings

Ingredients

Corn: 4 cups fresh sweet corn kernels (cut from about 4 ears of corn), or frozen sweet corn thawed and patted completely dry
Cooking Fat: 1 tbsp unsalted butter + 1 tbsp vegetable oil (or neutral high-smoke-point oil)
Creamy Base: 3 tbsp Mexican crema (or sour cream mixed with a splash of milk) + 2 tbsp mayonnaise (preferably Duke’s or Mexican mayonnaise with lime)
Cheese: ½ cup Cotija cheese, finely crumbled (Substitute: Queso Fresco or Feta)
Aromatics & Herbs: 2 cloves garlic, finely minced, and ⅓ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Seasoning & Acid: 1 tsp Tajín seasoning (or ½ tsp chili powder + ¼ tsp cayenne for extra heat), ½ tsp sea salt, and 1 large fresh lime, juiced (plus extra wedges for serving)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Char the CornHeat the butter and vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over high heat until shimmering. Add the corn kernels in a single, even layer. Let them cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottoms start to brown and char. Stir and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until deeply golden with dark charred spots.
Sauté the GarlicReduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté with the charred corn for about 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic. Remove the pan from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly for 2 minutes.
Mix the Creamy SauceIn a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Mexican crema, fresh lime juice, sea salt, and half of the Tajín seasoning until smooth.
Combine IngredientsFold the warm charred corn, chopped fresh cilantro, and half of the crumbled Cotija cheese into the creamy dressing. Stir thoroughly until every kernel is evenly coated.
Assemble and ServeSpoon the warm corn mixture evenly into 4 small cups or clear jars. Top each cup generously with the remaining Cotija cheese, a extra dusting of Tajín or chili powder, and a fresh lime wedge on the side. Serve immediately while warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cup (1/4th of recipe)