Esquites
Warm spiced corn cups
Warm corn kernels with butter, chilli and epazote, served in cups
Esquites are the cup version of elote, sold by street vendors across Mexico City from big pots: corn kernels sautéed with butter, onion, green chilli and epazote, simmered in a little salty water, then spooned into cups and topped with mayonnaise, lime, crumbled cheese and chilli powder. Each spoonful is sweet, buttery, tangy and warm, with a splash of the corn broth at the bottom. They make a great snack or side for tacos. Choose cotija or feta made with vegetarian rennet. Chef's tip: let the kernels brown slightly in the butter before adding the water; those toasty bits give esquites their depth.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the corn
- 4 corn on the cobor 600 g frozen sweetcorn kernels
- 1 oz unsalted butter
- ½ white onionfinely chopped
- 1 serrano chillifinely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh epazotechopped; or 1 tsp dried, or coriander
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tsp salt
To serve
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 limejuiced
- 2 ⅛ oz cotija cheesecrumbled; or feta
- 1 tsp chilli powderpiquín or ancho
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Stand each of 4 corn on the cob upright in a wide bowl and slice down the sides with a sharp knife to cut off the kernels; the bowl catches the ones that fly.
5 minStep 2: Melt 1 oz unsalted butter in a wide pan over a medium-high heat until it foams. Add ½ white onion and 1 serrano chilli and cook for 2 minutes until the onion softens.
2 minStep 3: Add the kernels and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring only every minute or so, until some kernels have golden-brown patches and the pan smells sweet and toasty.
5 minStep 4: Add 2 tbsp fresh epazote, ¾ cup water and 1 tsp salt. Simmer over a medium heat for 5 minutes, until the kernels are tender and most of the water has gone, leaving a few spoonfuls of buttery broth.
5 minStep 5: Spoon into cups or small bowls with a little of the broth. Top each with a spoonful of 4 tbsp mayonnaise, a squeeze of 2 lime, crumbled 2 ⅛ oz cotija cheese and a pinch of 1 tsp chilli powder. Serve warm with a spoon.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does esquites take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 8 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of white onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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