Description
A creamy and flavorful soup inspired by Mexican street corn (elote), featuring sweet corn, smoky spices, and a tangy lime crema. This easy Mexican street corn soup is perfect for a cozy dinner or as a starter for your favorite Mexican meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in minced garlic, smoked paprika, and chili powder. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add corn kernels and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, leaving some corn kernels whole for texture.
- Stir in sour cream and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Simmer for 2-3 more minutes.
- Ladle soup into bowls and top with crumbled cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Serve hot.
Notes
- Frozen corn works well as a substitute for fresh corn, especially when corn is out of season.
- If sour cream curdles slightly when added to hot soup, whisk vigorously or ignore; the taste remains unaffected.
- Adding the dairy component after blending the soup can help prevent curdling.
- Start with a small amount of lime juice and adjust to your preference to avoid an overly tart flavor.
- Feta cheese can be used as a substitute for cotija cheese if it’s unavailable.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently, adding a splash of broth if needed, as the soup thickens upon standing.
- For a smoother soup, allow it to cool slightly before blending to prevent splattering.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Comfort Food, Appetizers and Snacks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280cal
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg