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Mexican Street Corn Esquites

Mexican Street Corn Esquites brings together juicy kernels with a smoky edge, creamy crema, and tangy lime for a lively contrast in every bite. Cotija adds a salty crumble, while chili powder and cilantro brighten the cup with heat and freshness. Serve warm as a side or snack for cookouts, taco nights, or anytime you crave bold corn flavor.

  • Prep5 mins
  • Cook55 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Mexican Street Corn Esquites

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Mexican Street Corn Esquites, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

41 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactPoor
33 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
7 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
100 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

39
Heart Health
43
Metabolic
51
Digestive
31
Inflammatory
20
Performance
43
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Stir the water and sugar together in a large bowl until well mixed. Add the corn ears in their husks and soak for at least 1 hour.

  2. 2

    Preheat an outdoor grill to low heat with mesquite chips in the wood box. Lightly oil the grate.

  3. 3

    Take the corn out of the sugar-water and grill, still in the husks, on the preheated grill for 45 minutes. Remove the corn from the grill and let it cool before shucking. Cut the kernels from the cobs.

  4. 4

    Sauté the corn kernels with the chili powder in a large skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until lightly charred, about 5 minutes. Add the cotija cheese, crema, cilantro, and salt; cook until warmed through, about 4 minutes. Spritz with lime juice and serve hot.

About This Recipe

Mexican Street Corn Esquites is a Mexican appetizer recipe made with 11 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Chili Powder, Cooking Spray, Cotija Cheese, and Fresh Cilantro. Each serving provides about 519.4 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.

Recipe Questions

What is Mexican Street Corn Esquites?
It is a Mexican recipe made with 11 ingredients, usually served for appetizer or side dish or snack.
What is Mexican Street Corn Esquites made of?
The main ingredients are Chili Powder, Cooking Spray, Cotija Cheese, Fresh Cilantro, Lime Juice. The full list of 11 is above.
How long does it take to make Mexican Street Corn Esquites?
About 1 hr in total: 5 mins to prepare and 55 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 519.4 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Mexican Street Corn Esquites easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 11 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Mexican Street Corn Esquites healthy?
Mexican Street Corn Esquites has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 519.4 calories and 2.88 g of protein, or 6% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 3585.38 mg (156% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 2.33 g (12% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 64.79 g (130% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Corn, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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