Cauliflower Elote Mexican Street Corn (Print version)
Roasted cauliflower in smoky, creamy elote sauce topped with cotija, cilantro, and lime.
# What you'll need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Elote Sauce
03 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
04 - 1/4 cup sour cream
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
→ Toppings
10 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta as substitute)
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder (for garnish)
13 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F.
02 - Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread evenly on a baking sheet.
03 - Roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway, until florets are golden and tender.
04 - While cauliflower roasts, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, lime juice, and salt in a large bowl.
05 - Add the hot roasted cauliflower to the bowl with the elote sauce and toss until well coated.
06 - Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with cotija cheese, cilantro, and extra chili powder.
07 - Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- You get all those smoky tangy creamy flavors of street corn without the sticky mess of eating corn on the cob
- The cauliflower becomes surprisingly tender and absorbs every bit of that incredible elote sauce
- Its naturally vegetarian and gluten free but nobody will notice they are eating something healthy
02 -
- Work quickly when tossing the hot cauliflower in the sauce because the heat helps everything meld together
- Do not skip the step of cutting cauliflower into even sizes or you will end up with some burnt and some raw pieces
03 -
- Buy whole cotija cheese and crumble it yourself for the best texture instead of buying pre crumbled
- If your cauliflower seems wet after roasting let it air dry for 5 minutes before tossing in sauce