Elote Potato Salad (Printable)

A colorful blend of potatoes, grilled corn, cotija cheese, chili, and lime for a fresh, flavorful side.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pounds Yukon Gold or red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 2 ears corn, husked (or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed)
03 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced (optional)

→ Dressing

06 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
07 - 1/4 cup sour cream
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
09 - 1 teaspoon lime zest
10 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce (e.g., Cholula or Valentina)
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Toppings

14 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta cheese)
15 - Extra cilantro leaves
16 - Extra chili powder or Tajín (for garnish)
17 - Lime wedges, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold, salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and let cool slightly.
02 - Grill corn over medium-high heat on a grill or gas flame until lightly charred, about 7 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove kernels from cobs and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, hot sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
04 - Add cooled potatoes, grilled corn, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño to the dressing. Toss gently until evenly coated.
05 - Fold in most of the cotija cheese, reserving some for garnish.
06 - Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle with reserved cotija, extra cilantro, and a dusting of chili powder or Tajín. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
07 - Enjoy immediately or chill up to 4 hours for flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This bright, zesty potato salad is a total game-changer for picnics—it always vanishes first.
  • It captures all the bold fun of elote in creamy, crowd-pleasing form.
02 -
  • If you don’t let the potatoes cool a bit before mixing, the dressing gets runny and everything turns mushy.
  • Grilling the corn—even just over a gas burner—makes a world of difference in depth and smokiness.
03 -
  • Letting the salad chill for an hour really helps the flavors pop, but bring it out a bit before serving so it&aposs not ice-cold.
  • Don’t skip the step of seasoning both the potato water and the finished salad—it&aposs the difference between bland and brilliant.
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