Appetizer · Snack · Mexican ·

Mexican Esquites with Lime and Tajin

Name: Mexican Esquites with Lime and Tajin
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 4 ears of corn, husked and kernels removed; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup cotija cheese, crumbled; 1 lime, juiced; 2 tbsp Tajin seasoning; 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped; Salt, to taste; Lime wedges; Extra Tajin seasoning; Cotija cheese, additional for topping

Enjoy a taste of Mexican street food with this tangy, creamy, and spicy corn salad, perfect as an appetizer or side dish.

4.3(598 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 6, 2025

Mexican Esquites with Lime and Tajin — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

10 min

Cook

30 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Esquites

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 337 kcal
Protein: 6.25 g
Carbs: 29.25 g
Fat: 24.5 g
Fiber: 4 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1349 kcal
Protein: 25 g
Carbs: 117 g
Fat: 98 g
Fiber: 16 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
4 ears of corn husked and kernels removed	408	12	96	6	12
2 tbsp vegetable oil	240	0	0	28	0
1/4 cup mayonnaise	360	0	1	40	0
1/4 cup sour cream	120	2	3	10	0
1/4 cup cotija cheese crumbled	110	7	1	9	0
1 lime juiced	12	0	4	0	1
2 tbsp Tajin seasoning	25	0	6	0	2
1/4 cup cilantro chopped	1	0	0	0	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Lime wedges	6	0	2	0	0
Extra Tajin seasoning	12	0	3	0	1
Cotija cheese additional for topping	55	4	1	5	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Corn

1
Heat the oil
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2
Char the corn
Add corn kernels to the pan, cooking and stirring occasionally until they start to char slightly, about 8-10 minutes.
Tip: Do not overcook the corn; it should remain slightly firm for the best texture.
3
Cool slightly
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Mixing the Salad

1
Combine sauce
In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, and Tajin seasoning.
2
Stir ingredients
Stir in the cooked corn, cotija cheese, and cilantro.
3
Season
Season with salt to taste and adjust lime juice as desired.