My first taste of this Mexican corn salad recipe was as a side at Morton’s Steakhouse. Always looking for new and innovative sides, this is my light, spicy, and easy salad version. I love pairing it with my Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef and my Oven Baked Chicken Quesadillas for dinner.
Why you’ll love this recipe
The perfect side - Serve this as a side with grilled tandoori lamb chops, tacos or on Thanksgiving! it’s a great make-ahead option - Make this a day ahead and refrigerate it for your next cookout or picnic! Easy & quick recipe - 15 minutes from start to finish is a win for sure! Delicious leftovers - The leftovers make a great meal for the next day! I love them as a snack with tortilla chips or as part of a lunch bowl.
The ingredients
Corn - I used white frozen corn kernels in this recipe but yellow sweet corn works just as well. Jalapenos - I would suggest using 2 jalapenos as they provide much-needed flavor to the salad. If you want the salad less spicy just deseed the peppers. Red Onion - This adds a pop of color and flavor to the Mexican Corn Street Salad. Green Onions - Green onions add flavor, texture, and color to the corn salad. Lime Juice - This is essential and if possible try and stick to fresh lime juice versus lemon juice. Cilantro - Mexican food isn’t complete without fresh cilantro.
Mayonnaise - I use Kraft Olive Oil mayonnaise for most of my recipes but feel free to use your favorite brand. Sour Cream - The mayonnaise and sour cream combined create the taste of Mexican mayonnaise, which is similar to creme fraiche. Frank’s Hot Sauce - I use Frank’s Hot Sauce but any other hot sauce you like and have will work.
Garlic Powder - Plain garlic powder is what I use. If you use garlic salt then you may have to adjust the salt in the recipe. Red Chili Powder - This puts the spicy in this recipe and is a necessary ingredient. Cayenne Powder - Cayenne has a different taste than plain chili powder and the two used together create the perfect flavor. Black Pepper - Black pepper adds yet a different type of heat to the recipe and the result is fantastic! Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning - The final touch is a sprinkle of this seasoning. Ideally, if you have and can access Tajin I would recommend it. But if not, then Trader Joe’s seasoning works.
Substitutes & variations
Swap out the cheese - Whereas the original Mexican street version of this salad includes Cotija cheese, it’s notalways easy to source. You can swap Fresh Cotija cheese with Feta cheese, Parmesan cheese or Romano, depending on the flavor you’re looking for. Try Greek yogurt - Want a healthier version of the street salad? Try using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter version of the salad. Use grilled corn - Grill a fresh corn cob or two for this Mexican street salad and use the charred corn kernels for a slightly smoky taste.
Step-by-step instructions
Expert Tips
I like to mix my creamy dressing with my Mexican salad right at the end. I feel it keeps my Spicy Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe tasting a lot more crisp and fresh. Similarly, I add all the garnishes to my perfect summer side dish at the end for maximum freshness.
Other recipes you may like
For more Pakistani recipes like this, check out 20 popular Pakistani recipes. If you decide to try this recipe, Please don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below! If you take a picture then tag me on Instagram! Thank You!
