Experience the vibrant flavors of Mexican Street Corn transformed into a comforting and creamy summer soup. This luscious Mexican Street Corn Chowder harmoniously blends sweet corn, zesty lime, smoky chili powder, and rich cheese, creating a truly unforgettable culinary delight.
If you’re a fan of the classic street corn experience, you’ll also adore this Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)!
The Golden Heart of Summer: Celebrating Fresh Corn
Corn, that glorious golden jewel of summer, takes center stage in countless dishes as temperatures rise. There’s a special kind of magic in biting into a perfectly cooked ear of sweet corn, its kernels bursting with natural sweetness. Living in Illinois, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by cornfields stretching as far as the eye can see. This abundance means we get to enjoy corn at its peak, fresh from the farm, making it an irreplaceable part of our summer culinary traditions.
Every year, as summer draws to a close in late August, our community comes alive with a festival dedicated to celebrating all things corn. It’s a testament to this incredible vegetable’s versatility and widespread appeal. Imagine a feast featuring everything from perfectly boiled corn on the cob to sweet caramel popcorn, and even a lively corn-eating contest! This vibrant event draws thousands of people annually, all eager to partake in the harvest’s bounty and enjoy the delicious creativity inspired by corn. For many, including myself, it’s a cherished annual highlight.
Discovering Elote: The Inspiration Behind the Chowder
My personal love affair with corn knows no bounds. I actively seek opportunities to incorporate it into my meals, whether it’s adding a sweet crunch to salads and salsas, filling burritos, or enriching hearty chilis. Happily, my children share this enthusiasm, which is always a win in a parent’s book when it comes to vegetables! Years ago, while watching the Food Network, I stumbled upon a segment showcasing Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elote. I was immediately intrigued by the idea of smearing corn with mayonnaise and a vibrant mix of seasonings – why hadn’t I tried this before?
The flavor profile of Mexican Street Corn instantly captivated me. The bright tang of lime, the creamy richness of mayonnaise, and the salty, savory notes of cheese are among my favorite culinary combinations. Add to that my deep appreciation for garlic and fresh cilantro, and it was clear: Mexican Street Corn had to become a staple in my life, without delay. My initial experience with Elote, during a memorable trip to Wyoming where many of our best recipe ideas are born (see our Blueberry Moscow Mules, Grilled Shrimp Tacos, and Peach Pie for more inspiration!), was nothing short of revelatory. We boiled fresh corn, generously coated it with the creamy, zesty mixture, squeezed on extra lime juice, and finished it with a liberal dusting of cheese. The resulting flavors were truly mind-blowing. This authentic Mexican street food, often served off the cob as esquites, is a stroke of culinary genius. Its incredible deliciousness inspired me to transform it into a refreshing salad the following summer.
From Street Food to Soul-Warming Chowder: A Culinary Revelation
Fast forward to the current summer. While casually flipping through a magazine, a recipe for classic corn chowder caught my eye. A lightbulb moment! Why not combine the beloved flavors of Mexican Street Corn with the comforting texture of a hearty chowder? The idea took immediate hold. Fortuitously, we have a friend with several plots of corn on his farm who regularly drops off fresh ears. Talk about a perfect hookup! That very morning, he had delivered eight pristine ears of corn to our doorstep. I knew instantly what we would be enjoying for dinner, and it was perfectly timed as the weather had dipped to a delightful 70 degrees, signaling a need for something warm and satisfying.
Crafting Your One-Pot Mexican Street Corn Chowder
This Mexican Street Corn Chowder is remarkably simple to prepare, requiring just one pot. Yes, it’s a true one-pan wonder, making clean-up a breeze. The process begins by sautéing your vegetables until tender, then incorporating flavorful stock, aromatic seasonings, and a touch of cream. After a quick blend to achieve that irresistible creamy texture, it’s ready to serve. And whatever you do, don’t forget the toppings – they are absolutely essential and truly elevate this dish to another level of deliciousness.
Is it a Soup or a Chowder? Defining a Hearty Delight
The distinction between a soup and a chowder is a culinary debate many ponder. For this recipe, I’ve chosen to call it a chowder, and for good reason. While it shares the comforting warmth of a soup, it possesses a richer, more substantial consistency, moving beyond the thinness of a traditional broth-based soup. Yet, it’s not quite as thick or chunky as a stew, finding its perfect balance somewhere in between. This Mexican Street Corn Chowder is truly epic – a culinary masterpiece that captures the essence of Mexican street corn in an incredibly satisfying, velvety form. It’s a bowl of pure comfort and flavor, a taste of heaven that will leave you utterly amazed.
The Velvety Smooth Perfection of This Chowder
Have you ever taken a single bite of a dish and found yourself momentarily lost in awe, experiencing a flavor sensation that perfectly coats your palate? This Mexican Street Corn Chowder is precisely that kind of experience. Its luscious, velvety smooth texture, primarily due to the fresh corn, is simply divine. The harmonious combination of zesty lime, warm chili powder, and salty cotija cheese creates an incredible flavor explosion. This chowder is an absolute must-try this summer, before the season’s sweet corn vanishes and pumpkin spice takes over everything!
I genuinely implore you to make this chowder. How could anyone resist a bowl of such enticing deliciousness? Just look at that photo above – pure culinary invitation!
6 votes
Print Recipe
Mexican Street Corn Chowder
Cook Time
Total Time
Author Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Yields 6 bowls
All the irresistible flavors of traditional Mexican Street Corn blended into a warm, luscious, and creamy summer chowder. Sweet corn, zesty lime, chili powder, and rich cheese meld together perfectly to create this vibrant and comforting dish.
Ingredients
- 6 ears corn, kernels removed, reserving 1-2 stripped cobs
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeno, roasted and diced or 1 can diced jalapenos, optional
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Zest of 1 lime
- Juice of 2 limes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Toppings: fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, a pinch of chili powder, charred corn kernels*, lime wedges and/or sour cream thinned with lime juice.
- *To char corn kernels, place 1 whole corn cob over a gas burner set to medium heat. Watch closely and rotate until the kernels are blistered. Alternatively, use a hot skillet.
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté 3/4 of the corn kernels in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil for 5 minutes until slightly tender. Remove the sautéed corn and set aside.
- Add the remaining butter and oil to the same pot. Add the diced garlic and onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Return the reserved 3/4 of the sautéed corn kernels to the pot with the garlic and onion.
- Stir in the diced jalapenos (if using), chicken stock, chili powder, and the reserved corn cobs (these will infuse extra corn flavor into the broth). Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Remove the pot from the heat and carefully discard the corn cobs.
- Using an immersion blender, carefully purée the soup directly in the pot until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency. (Alternatively, you can transfer batches to a regular blender, being cautious with hot liquids, and then return it to the pot.)
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, lime zest, and lime juice. Add the remaining 1/4 of the fresh (or previously sautéed) corn kernels for texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle the warm Mexican Street Corn Chowder into bowls. Garnish generously with your desired toppings. We highly recommend using all of them for the ultimate flavor experience!
Courses Soup
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 6 servings
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 252 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 20 g | 31% | |
Saturated Fat 10 g | 50% | |
Cholesterol 49 mg | 16% | |
Sodium 371 mg | 15% | |
Total Carbohydrates 10 g | 3% | |
Dietary Fiber 1 g | 4% | |
Sugars 3 g | ||
Protein 9 g | 18% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Enjoying Mexican Street Corn Chowder All Year Round
I can confidently say that I’ve never loved a soup more than this Mexican Street Corn Chowder. It’s a symphony of flavors, perfectly balanced with sweetness from the corn, creamy richness, a bright citrusy kick from the lime, and a subtle warmth from the optional jalapeño. Given our location in Illinois, we make it a point to stock up on fresh corn every late August. I love freezing corn kernels off the cob, ensuring we can enjoy its delightful taste throughout the colder months. This foresight allows me to incorporate corn into a variety of dishes, maintaining a well-stocked freezer for culinary inspiration.
I am absolutely certain that this Mexican Street Corn Chowder will be a regular on my menu throughout the fall and winter, not just a summer exclusive. It’s simply too good to reserve only for the peak sweet corn season. If fresh corn isn’t readily available, don’t despair! You can easily substitute a few cans of corn (drained) or even frozen corn kernels. While I haven’t personally tested these methods, you might need to adjust the seasonings to taste. Consider adding a small amount of sugar if using canned or frozen corn, to help mimic the natural sweetness of fresh corn.
I have no doubt that you, too, will fall in love with this incredible chowder! What’s your favorite way to enjoy sweet corn? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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