Easy Vegan Elote (Mexican Street Corn Recipe)
User Reviews
5
Easy Vegan Elote (Mexican Street Corn Recipe)
Description
This Vegan Elote features grilled corn brush-coated with a marinade of cilantro, lime juice, smoked paprika, salt, and olive oil. The Brazil nut cheese coating adds a toasted, nutty flavor and crumbly texture reminiscent of traditional cheese toppings, made by roasting and grinding Brazil nuts with garlic, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, salt, asafetida, and panko breadcrumbs. The chili mayo, blended from vegan mayonnaise, chipotle, ancho chili powder, hot sauce, lime juice, and tomato paste, provides creamy, smoky, and tangy notes.
The grilling step chars the corn slightly while keeping it juicy, enhancing the complex flavors of the toppings. This vegan version captures the essence of Mexican street corn by balancing smokiness, acidity, and savory richness. It can be served as a side dish or snack during cookouts or casual meals, showcasing creative use of nuts and spices to replicate dairy-based toppings.
When grilling, avoiding overcooking preserves moisture and prevents drying. Using a charcoal grill or stovetop grill pan allows achieving the right char and tenderness. The recipe notes suggest a grill pan with two burners for versatility and emphasize removing husks and thorough rinsing before prepping the marinade.
Ingredients
Brazil nut cheese coating
- ½ cup brazil nuts
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon asafetida
- 2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
Chili Mayo
- ¼ cup vegenaise or other vegan mayo of your choice
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce of your preference
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons tomato paste
The corn
- 3 tablespoons cilantro minced, fresh
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 corn on the cob
Instructions
Make the Brazil nut cheese coating
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the Brazil nuts, garlic, paprika and olive oil and a mixing bowl. Spread the contents of the bowl out onto a parchment paper lined baking tray, and roast in the oven for 14 minutes until the nuts are toasted, and most liquid has been absorbed or evaporated. Allow the nut to fully cool to room temperature for 20 minutes. Place the contents of the tray into a food processor, and grind for 60 seconds into coarse meal. Add the nutritional yeast, salt asafetida and bread crumbs, and pulse a few times to combine.
Make The Chili Mayo
- Mix the ingredients together in a bowl using a small whisk or the tines of a fork until smoothly combined.
Grill the corn
- Preheat a charcoal grill or indoor grill pan. Mix together the cilantro, lime juice, paprika, salt and olive oil in a bowl. Husk the corn, rinse it, and then brush all sides of the corn with the marinade. Grill each ear of corn for a couple minutes on each side until tender, and with some char and grill marks all around.
Dress up the corn and serve!
- While still hot, brush each ear of grilled corn with about 4 teaspoons of the chili mayo, and coat all around with the ground Brazil nut cheese. Sprinkle the outside of the coated corn lightly with a teaspoon of chili powder.
Notes
- Use a stove-top grill pan or charcoal grill to control charring and cooking speed effectively.
- Avoid overcooking the corn to keep it tender and juicy rather than dry.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 361 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 361kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Sodium | 607mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 515mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 745IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 42mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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