Do you know what esquites are? They are authentic Mexican street food and are found throughout Mexico. It is one of the typical foods you see in restaurants or food trucks on the streets of cities and towns.
What are esquites (elote in a cup)?
Esquites are corn kernels stewed with chili and epazote, served with mayonnaise, crema, lime, and chili powder. The typical way of making them is with shelled white corn, and usually, the eloteros (people who sell corn-elote on the streets of Mexico) bring them in huge aluminum or peltre pots on top of a cart hooked to their bicycles.
It is also such a typical and authentic Mexican street food that you can find esquite and corn on the cob vendors in every park in Mexico. But the authentic esquite is NOT a corn salad or grilled corn kernels, and in Mexico, we do not eat it as a side dish.
Mexican vendors
It is fun to watch them ride around with large aluminum pots attached to their bikes in a makeshift structure. They typically carry two pots – one filled with esquites and the other with corn on the cob for preparing delicious Mexican street corn.
Regardless of your order, they always ask, “Con todo?” (“With everything?”), so you can choose all the toppings you desire.
How they prepare it
If you decide to go for corn on the cob, the vendor will take it out of the steaming pot, attach a wooden stick to it, peel away the husks, and top it with the condiments of your preference, such as mayonnaise, lime, Crema Fresca, ground chili, and usually cotija, which is a type of queso fresco cheese.
When you opt for esquites, which are usually found in a pot next to the corn on the cob, they will be served in either foam or plastic cups. The kernels are usually scooped up with a ladle, and then any excess liquid is drained off by placing the ladle on top and returning it to the pot.
And again, they would ask…With everything? They would add mayo, Mexican crema, cheese, lime juice, and ground chili if you say yes. I do have to say my favorite way to eat it is with salt, lime juice, and ground chili powder.
Why make esquites with hominy?
In Mexico, fresh corn is white, and it is not sweet. In the United States, corn is yellow and very sweet; I have not found a type of corn similar to Mexican corn. Shoepeg corn is the closest one but not readily available. That is why I thought of making esquites with hominy corn. The flavor is similar to Mexican corn.
about this mexican corn recipe
Also, this esquite recipe is easy and makes a delicious treat in no time, even if you have a can of pozole hominy in the pantry or a bag of frozen pozole corn in the freezer.
Ingredients
- Hominy. I confess that I use the one in a can ready to eat. You can also use natural pozole and put it to cook yourself, but to make this recipe, it has to cook.
- Epazote. Epazote is an aromatic herb very common in my country; I can not think of a fresh herb to substitute it. So, if you do not find it, keep it out; if it is your first time trying, start with one sprig and slowly add more. You could substitute with fresh cilantro, but it would never be the same.
- Chile serrano. Serrano chili, diced. Remove the veins and seeds if you don’t want them to be so spicy.
- Butter. I use vegan butter, but you can use whatever you like best.
ingredients For serving
- Vegan mayonnaise, homemade with aquafaba or Vegenaise, also works well.
- Fresh lime juice, a lot, and lime wedges to finish.
- Chilli powder, about a teaspoon of chili powder per serving. Use Tajin or another Mexican chili mix; I don’t think cayenne pepper is a good substitute for this popular street food in Mexico.
- Fresh Mexican crema and a good tablespoon of cotija cheese.
How to make corn in a cup?
- First, sauté the diced chile with butter, then add the corn.
- Add your water, salt, and epazote. Stir and leave it until it starts to boil. Taste, adjust the flavor, and get ready to serve it.
- Serve the corn and a little broth in small cups. Finish with lime juice, one or a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise (I use vegan mayo), and chili powder. Eat with a spoon.
when and how to serve
Esquites are perfect for that afternoon craving; they are ideal as a snack or start a meal. In Mexico, we also serve them at parties, and it is a typical snack at all carnivals.
Answers to your burning questions
Can you store esquites? Yes, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for about three to five days. You could also freeze them in a freezer-safe bag.
Can they be served cold? Yes, but I do not recommend it. Esquites are not Mexican corn salads, so do not serve them cold or at least warm.
What does esquite mean? Mexican corn in a cup.
Are they healthy? It all depends on the quality of the ingredients. But yes, they could be healthy-ish if you don’t add Cheetos or other widely processed food.
Are esquites vegan? This recipe is vegan, but the authentic esquite recipe is vegetarian. They normally are finished with cotija chees or queso fresco.
Other recipes that you may like:
Esquites, Mexican street food
Equipment
- LArge soup pot
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 jalapeño
- 4 cups corn kernels or pozole corn
- 3 cups of water
- 3 tbsp epazote, chopped
- salt
For serving
- mayonnaise
- lime juice
- ground chili
- salt
Instructions
- To prepare, start by heating butter in a pan and sautéing the diced chile. Next, add the corn to the pan.
- Add water, salt, and epazote. Bring to a boil. Adjust taste, it should be flavorful but not salty.
- Serve the corn and broth in glasses. Top with lime juice, mayo, and chili powder.
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Tengo una Certificación Profesional en la cocina vegana; en el mundo de la cocina basada en vegetales, frutas, granos, leguminosas… en comida limpia, orgánica y vegana.
My cookbook is called Yo Cocino Latino..
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