Gluten-free Mexican elote – grilled sweetcorn with chilli & lime

Gluten-free Mexican elote – grilled sweetcorn on the cob with chilli & lime, soured cream, mayonnaise, hard cheese and fresh coriander. Spicy, creamy and summery.

At a glance

• Serves 4
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 10 min
• Total time: 15 min
• Calories: 220 kcal per serving
• Protein: 8 g
• Fat: 10 g
• Carbs: 28 g

Ingredients

• 4 sweetcorn cobs (fresh)
• 3 tbsp soured cream (or crema Mexicana)
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise (made with olive oil, no seed oils)
• 50 g vegetarian hard cheese (Parmesan-style), grated (or Cotija)
• 1 unwaxed lime
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chilli flakes (or Tajín)
• 1 bunch of fresh coriander
• 1 pinch of salt

Method

You’ll need: griddle pan · mixing bowl · grater · spatula

1. Husk the sweetcorn cobs and remove the fine silky threads thoroughly. Heat a barbecue or griddle pan until very hot.
2. Grill the sweetcorn cobs all over without any extra oil until clearly browned with dark patches. Turn them regularly so they cook evenly.
3. Stir the soured cream and mayonnaise together in a small bowl until smooth. Brush the hot cobs all over with it straight after grilling.
4. Put the hard cheese on a plate and roll the coated cobs in it so the cheese sticks well. Then sprinkle with chilli flakes and smoked paprika.
5. Squeeze over the lime juice and finish with freshly chopped coriander. Serve while still warm.
6. To serve, add the rest of the lime in wedges. If you like, add a little more chilli or extra coriander at the table.

Good to know

Elote is loud, creamy and a little chaotic – that's exactly what makes it so good. The contrast of charred flavours, freshness and heat instantly feels like street food.

Swaps

Hard cheese → Cotija (more traditional, similar protein content; often made with animal rennet) | Soured cream → Greek yoghurt (more protein, a little tangier) | Mayonnaise → mashed avocado with lime juice (more fibre and unsaturated fats) | Chilli flakes → Tajín (a fresher citrus-chilli flavour, often easier to keep mild)

Allergens

Contains milk from the soured cream and hard cheese, and egg from the mayonnaise; keep the heat mild for children, and in pregnancy look for pasteurised dairy products and ingredients that have been handled hygienically.