You know when you just want to take something out of your grocery bag and have it all ready, done and awesome on your plate in ten minutes? This recipe is going to do that.
Corn is one of those vegetables so many of us love (just ask Carol Channing). You can do so many things with it, but there’s really nothing like eating some of it right off the cob. Sweet little kernels that burst with a joyous flavor right into your mouth – it’s impossible not to love the stuff.
Now to me, there really isn’t any other way I prefer my corn than slathered in this incredible tangy cotija cheese sauce that is easily whipped up as the corn is cooking – they call it the Mexican Street Corn style due to it being exactly that – made in carts on the street. Folks, I’m telling you now it takes corn to the next level.
And what’s even better is how QUICKLY it cooks in the Instant Pot. This will be on your plate in no time at all!
Here’s How I Made It!:
Okay, we’ll need some corn…
…shucked (meaning pull off all that glossy, green hair)…
…so it looks like this when done.
Add the trivet and some water to the Instant Pot…
…and lay the corn on the trivet…
…in a criss-crossing fashion. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure.
While the corn’s cooking, make the Mexican Street Sauce! Start off with some sour cream…
…and add some mayo…
…crumbled cotija cheese…
…dried cilantro…
…chili powder…
…and some fresh lime juice.
Mix together well…
…so it looks like a beautiful, thick and creamy sauce.
When the corn’s done, transfer it to a plate.
Now taking a wooden stick (like the kind you’d use for roasting marshmallows or making shish kebob)…
…insert into the bottom of the corn cob.
Take a basting brush…
…and slather the sauce on the corn!
Rotate the corn while brushing that magic sauce on it so that it looks like this masterpiece on a stick when done.
Eat the corn…
…wipe the messy face…
…and repeat.
RIDICULOUSLY FAST AND DELICIOUS!
Instant Pot Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
I love corn. I love it even more when it's done Mexican street-style, which is also known as Elote (pronounced "ee-loh-tay"). That zesty, savory and tangy sauce that coats the cob is everything.
Ingredients
- Up to 8 ears of fresh corn, shucked
- 1/3 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup of sour cream
- 1/2 cup of crumbled cotija cheese
- 1 tbsp of dried cilantro
- 1 tsp of chili powder
- Juice of half a lime
Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, add the trivet and 1.5 cups of water. Layer the shucked corn on top of the trivet and criss-cross each new level. Secure the lid and hit “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” High Pressure for 3 minutes for 2-5 pieces and 4 minutes for 6-8 pieces. Quick release when done.
- While the corn is cooking, make the sauce by mixing together the mayo, sour cream, cotija cheese, dried cilantro, chili powder and lime juice.
- Using tongs, transfer the corn to a plate. Insert wooden skewer sticks into the bottom of each corn cob for support and brush the sauce generously on each piece.
- For A Roasted Touch: After cooking the corn in the Instant Pot, do not sauce it yet. Drain the liner pot, return it and add the fryer basket. Add the air fryer lid and hit Broil (400 degrees) for 10-15 minutes and hit Start. Roast to your liking!OR turn the oven to broil and place corn on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for a few minutes (about 2-5 but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn much as ovens vary). When roasted, slather the corn with the sauce and top with additional cotija cheese, cilantro and squeezed lime if you so desire just before serving.
- Enjoy!
Jeffrey's Tips
Don’t want the sauce? Use butter instead!
Don’t want butter? Eat the corn plain! It tastes PERFECT as is!
Want it broiled so it gets a little burnt? Broil it in the oven at the end for a few minutes!
Raylene
Love your recipes but the Mexican Street Corn maybe my favorite. I refer friends and others to you page a lot for simple yummy food. Keep up the good work.❤
Mary E Halsey
Love your site and the recipes!!!! God bless!!!
AY
Any substitute for cotija cheese?
Jeffrey
Feta or Parmesan work!
Candy
Do you have a suggestion for a sub cilantro? Can’t stand the stuff!
Lauren
Can you just double sour cream if you hate the mayonnaise? Or what else could you sub for mayonnaise
Marisa Carder
Recipe looks great!
Small note… your picture at the top of the page says, in big text, MAXICAN street corn, lol.
Melody Linaman
I LOVE Elote. This recipe was delicious! My first time cooking corn in instant pot. It was so much better. Not dripping from boiling in water. I will always cook it this way from now on!
Charmaigne
Jeffrey, once again you’ve outdone yourself. I love creating authentic Mexican cuisine in my Instant Pot (I have a Duo Crisp). I If I may, I’d like to offer a suggestion? I think this will increase the deliciousness factor for your Elote to make it 6 stars out of 5. Add 1/2 tsp cumin, the zest from the 1/2 lime and then… Tajin. Tajin is really easy to find an almost any market these days (even way up here in Canada). Let me know what you think. Keep creating. Pressure Luck is my first place to search for IP recipes!
Jeffrey
Well this just made my day into a fiesta!
Vicki Moore
Do you just sprinkle the Tajin on?
Cindy
Can you make this with corn off the cob?
Sal-Lee
Cindy, just add some sauce to the corn you cut off and stir, it wil be just as good.
Sal-Lee
Sure, just cut up the corn and stir some of the sauce in.
Tracy Barlow White
Not a huge fan of elote toppings, but LOVE corn on the cob in Instant Pot! 2 minutes for me. Claim to fame is fitting 10 ears in one 6 qt pot (cut in half to fit)!