Description
This Air Fryer Elote recipe offers a quick and delicious way to enjoy Mexican-style street corn with a creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce. Utilizing an air fryer gives the corn a roasted, charred flavor in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect appetizer or side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Corn and Seasoning
- 4 ears of corn on the cob (shucked and cleaned)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (separated)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (separated)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Elote Sauce
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayo
- 2 oz. cotija cheese (crumbled)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and season the corn: Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the 4 ears of corn and massage it into the kernels with your hands. Season the corn evenly with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper for balanced flavor.
- Air fry the corn: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom of the air fryer basket to prevent sticking. Place the seasoned corn inside and cook for 10 minutes, flipping the ears halfway through to ensure even roasting and slight charring.
- Prepare the elote sauce: While the corn cooks, combine the Greek yogurt, mayo, crumbled cotija cheese, fresh lime juice, and lime zest in a bowl. Mix them thoroughly to create a creamy, tangy sauce. Pour the sauce onto a large plate and spread it out evenly for easy rolling later.
- Coat the corn in sauce and finish: Once the corn is done, remove it from the air fryer and roll each ear in the elote sauce spread on the plate, ensuring they are evenly coated. Use a spoon to drizzle any remaining sauce over the corn. Finally, sprinkle the ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper on top for a touch of heat, and serve immediately to enjoy the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Shucking and cleaning the corn properly ensures better seasoning adherence and cooking.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Using Greek yogurt adds creaminess with less fat compared to sour cream, making it a healthier option.
- You can substitute cotija cheese with feta if cotija is unavailable, although the flavor may vary slightly.
- Make sure to flip the corn halfway during air frying for even cooking and prevent burning.
- Serve immediately after coating for optimal taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
