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Esquites, Mexican street corn in a cup, is super flavorful and comes together quickly. Made with corn, cotija cheese, mayo, herbs and spices, this corn dish is sure to become a family favorite!
Esquites is a delicious, flavorful Mexican street food made with corn. It’s very similar to another popular Mexican street food, elote. Elote is eaten on the cob rather than with corn kernels and with a spoon, like esquites. Esquites is basically elote in a cup!
Mexican corn recipe for kids
This esquites recipe is incredibly family- and kid-friendly. You can use frozen or canned corn, so it’s easy for busy parents to get this dish to the table in a pinch. Also, for picky eaters that are still learning to eat corn on the cob, esquites allows parents to serve their kids a micro portion of the dish. (Read more about micro portions below!)
Kids will love this corn recipe because it is inherently sweet, and the creaminess from the mayo pairs so well with the sweet corn and the tang from fresh squeezed lime juice. The cilantro adds some beautiful green flecks and a bright, fresh flavor. As the dish sits, the flavors develop and deepen even more.
This creamy corn dish can be enjoyed in so many ways. In Mexico, it is very common to eat esquites warm, but you can also serve it at room temperature. If packing in a lunchbox, include an ice pack, because this corn salad is also delightful when served cold. Don’t forget to pack a spoon or fork if sending to daycare or school!
More ways to serve esquites
Top a bed of lettuce with a generous scoop of esquites
Not only is this dish easy to make, but it’s humble ingredient list makes it inexpensive as well! Here are the ingredients in corn esquites:
Corn kernels
Butter
Mayonnaise
Lime juice
Scallions
Cotija cheese
Cilantro
Paprika
How to make esquites
To make this esquites recipe, first you have to prepare the corn. If using frozen corn, you will need to defrost it. You could also try charring the defrosted corn on the stove in a cast iron skillet or another saucepan. Cook the kernels until they warm through and develop some slight charring. If using canned corn for this esquites recipe, you’ll simply need to open the can and, if desired, you can rinse the corn.
Then, you simply combine the corn with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. That’s it! You can make esquites ahead of time and it will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
For this esquites recipe, you can use fresh, frozen or canned corn.
As an alternative for cilantro, you could try a small amount of parsley or omit it altogether.
Another great addition to this would be some chopped jalapeño (omit the seeds and veins to leave out most of the spice) or even a green bell pepper for that “chili pepper” taste and texture without the spice.
For the adults and big kids who love a spicy kick, try adding chili powder, tajin (a chili lime seasoning) or your favorite hot sauce.
Because corn is a summer produce, this would be a great accompaniment to a summertime barbecue. Use freshly grilled corn, or any corn leftover from a barbecue or cookout, for an extra special treat. The charred kernels add a delicious, smokey flavor.
Cotija cheese can be found in most grocery stores in the cheese section, but no worries if you can’t find it! A good alternative in terms of taste and texture would be feta cheese. You could also try cheddar or a blend of shredded Mexican cheeses.
Expert picky eating tip
Esquites is a great dish for introducing corn to picky eaters. You can begin by serving a micro portion to picky kids. A micro portion is a tiny bite of food that is often less overwhelming for kids and toddlers than a full, adult-sized portion. Serving selective children micro portions also helps reduce food waste while they are learning how to eat the food. In this case, a micro portion could look like a single kernel of corn. Gradually increase the portion size over time as your picky eater gets more comfortable with corn and esquites.
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About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
I'm a father of three young, active children, an avid reader of all things sports nutrition and a triathlon athlete. When I'm not filling my kids' lunchboxes, chasing them around the park or beating my wife at Mario Kart, you can find me creating recipes and developing menus for restaurants, including Applebee's, Coco's, Shari's and more. Making sure children have access to nutritionally dense food is a passion of mine, so I have partnered with organizations like "No Kid Hungry."
This free veggie exposure shopping list and menu planner will give you ideas for bringing more veggies into your home (AND help you get your little one closer to eating them!).
Esquites, Mexican street corn in a cup, is super flavorful and comes together quickly. Made with corn, cotija cheese, mayo, herbs and spices, this corn dish is sure to become a family favorite!
Esquites recipe: Mexican corn in a cup
Esquites is a delicious, flavorful Mexican street food made with corn. It’s very similar to another popular Mexican street food, elote. Elote is eaten on the cob rather than with corn kernels and with a spoon, like esquites. Esquites is basically elote in a cup!
Mexican corn recipe for kids
This esquites recipe is incredibly family- and kid-friendly. You can use frozen or canned corn, so it’s easy for busy parents to get this dish to the table in a pinch. Also, for picky eaters that are still learning to eat corn on the cob, esquites allows parents to serve their kids a micro portion of the dish. (Read more about micro portions below!)
Kids will love this corn recipe because it is inherently sweet, and the creaminess from the mayo pairs so well with the sweet corn and the tang from fresh squeezed lime juice. The cilantro adds some beautiful green flecks and a bright, fresh flavor. As the dish sits, the flavors develop and deepen even more.
Learn more about getting kids to eat corn in our picky eater guide.
Serving esquites to your family
This creamy corn dish can be enjoyed in so many ways. In Mexico, it is very common to eat esquites warm, but you can also serve it at room temperature. If packing in a lunchbox, include an ice pack, because this corn salad is also delightful when served cold. Don’t forget to pack a spoon or fork if sending to daycare or school!
More ways to serve esquites
Need help selecting a lunchbox? Read our honest reviews of popular lunchboxes.
Ingredients for Mexican corn
Not only is this dish easy to make, but it’s humble ingredient list makes it inexpensive as well! Here are the ingredients in corn esquites:
How to make esquites
To make this esquites recipe, first you have to prepare the corn. If using frozen corn, you will need to defrost it. You could also try charring the defrosted corn on the stove in a cast iron skillet or another saucepan. Cook the kernels until they warm through and develop some slight charring. If using canned corn for this esquites recipe, you’ll simply need to open the can and, if desired, you can rinse the corn.
Then, you simply combine the corn with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. That’s it! You can make esquites ahead of time and it will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Looking for more healthy snack recipes for kids? We got them!
Tips for making the best corn esquites
Expert picky eating tip
Esquites is a great dish for introducing corn to picky eaters. You can begin by serving a micro portion to picky kids. A micro portion is a tiny bite of food that is often less overwhelming for kids and toddlers than a full, adult-sized portion. Serving selective children micro portions also helps reduce food waste while they are learning how to eat the food. In this case, a micro portion could look like a single kernel of corn. Gradually increase the portion size over time as your picky eater gets more comfortable with corn and esquites.
Read more about picky eating and how to reverse it.
Esquites with Frozen or Canned Corn
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition