Description
This **Mexican Street Corn Soup** is creamy, smoky, and bursting with fresh corn flavor. Inspired by the flavors of classic elote, it combines charred corn, Cotija cheese, and zesty lime for a comforting and flavorful soup.
Ingredients
¼ cup olive or vegetable oil
6 cups fresh corn kernels (from 8–10 shucked cobs, reserve 6 cobs)
1 cup chopped yellow onion
¼ teaspoon ancho chili powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
½ cup sour cream
½ cup grated Cotija cheese, plus extra for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro, divided
Instructions
1. Heat oil in a large nonstick pot or Dutch oven until shimmering.
2. Add corn kernels, onion, chili powder, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper. Cook 8-10 minutes until onions are soft and corn is lightly charred.
3. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Remove 1½ cups of corn mixture and set aside.
5. Stir in broth and the 6 reserved corn cobs, scraping brown bits. Bring to boil, then reduce and simmer 20 minutes.
6. Remove corn cobs and discard.
7. Stir in sour cream and Cotija cheese. Blend soup until smooth.
8. Return to pot, stir in half of reserved corn, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder.
9. Toss remaining corn with lime zest and 2 teaspoons cilantro. Serve soup topped with corn mixture and extra Cotija.
Notes
Use fresh corn for best flavor; frozen or canned is not recommended.
Adjust chili powder to taste; start conservatively.
Optional: sauté 1 finely chopped jalapeño or poblano with onion and corn for extra heat.
To strip corn, shave kernels from cob horizontally or vertically in a Bundt pan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 363
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 903mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 25mg