Corn in a Cup (Elote en Vaso)

4.6
(27)
19 Reviews
5 Photos

Learn how to make elote en vaso with this easy recipe for Mexican street food at its finest. Every time I visit El Paso or Mexico, the craving for elote en vaso steps into high gear. Now when I crave this at home, I can whip it up anytime. I like to make it fancy by serving it in a pretty glass instead of the traditional styrofoam cup; the taste is sweet, crunchy, fiery, and juicy no matter how you serve it. This is a very customizable recipe; feel free to adjust the proportions of lime juice, crema, cheese, and spices to taste!

Submitted by Muy Bueno
Updated on November 13, 2024
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen
5
high angle looking at a few corn in a cups garnished with lime wedges, hot sauce and cheese
5
5
5
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
10
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 10 servings

  • 10 ears corn, shucked and kernels removed

  • 1 ¼ cups butter

  • 2 ½ cups lime juice

  • 2 ½ cups crema Mexicana (Mexican cream)

  • 1 ¼ teaspoons chili powder, or to taste

  • salt to taste

  • 1 ¼ cups crumbled cotija cheese

  • 10 dashes hot pepper sauce (Optional)

  • 10 wedges fresh lime

Directions

  1. Place corn kernels in a saucepan and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and return corn to the saucepan to dry.

    a top down view of corn kernels in a sauce pan, covered with water.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Spoon 3/4 cup corn into each of 10 serving bowls. Stir 2 tablespoons butter into each bowl until melted. Mix 1/4 cup lime juice and 1/4 cup crema Mexicana into each bowl. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon chili powder on top and season with salt.

    3/4 cup of corn kernels added to 10 small glass cups, topped with butter and salt

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
    a close up on a cup of corn topped with butter, salt, and chili powder.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons cotija cheese, a dash of hot sauce, and a lime wedge.

    high angle looking at a few corn in a cups garnished with lime wedges, hot sauce and cheese

    DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 
84 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

564 Calories
52g Fat
26g Carbs
9g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 564
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 52g 66%
Saturated Fat 32g 161%
Cholesterol 160mg 53%
Sodium 406mg 18%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 9g 18%
Vitamin C 26mg 29%
Calcium 132mg 10%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 346mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.