This week's work · 2026-08-24
Grilled corn, a smear of lime mayo, and the last cookout of August
Corn grilled in the husk until it's smoky and sweet, then slathered with lime mayo, cotija, and a dusting of smoked paprika — elote-style, straight off the grill.
The last cookout of August deserves the best corn of the summer, and elote-style grilled corn is the best thing we know how to do with it. We pulled the husks back, stripped away the silk, and soaked the ears in cold water while the grill got hot.
The corn went on the grill in its husks, and the husks did their job — steaming the kernels until they were tender, then charring at the edges as the grill marks came through. When the ears came off, the kernels were smoky and sweet, with a few blistered spots that tasted like the whole summer.
The finish is the whole point: a smear of lime mayo, a shower of cotija, a dusting of smoked paprika, and a squeeze of lime. We ate them standing around the grill, which is the only correct way to eat grilled corn.
The lesson was about the last cookout of the season. Corn in the husk, a hot grill, and a good smear — that's the whole recipe. The summer does the rest.
Corn in the husk, a hot grill, and a good smear — that's the whole recipe. The summer does the rest.
02 · The recipe
Grilled Corn, Elote-Style
Corn grilled in the husk until smoky and sweet, then slathered with lime mayo, cotija, and smoked paprika — elote-style, straight off the grill.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
What you'll need
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Non-perishable
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, plus more for dusting
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Perishable
- 4 ears corn, husks pulled back and silk removed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1 lime, cut into wedges, for serving
Useful equipment
Method
- Pull the husks back from the corn, strip away the silk, and pull the husks back up over the kernels. Soak the ears in cold water 15 minutes.
- Heat the grill to medium-high. Drain the corn and grill it in the husks, turning often, 20–25 minutes, until the kernels are tender and the husks are charred at the edges.
- Meanwhile, whisk the mayonnaise, lime juice, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pull the husks back from the grilled corn and brush each ear with the lime mayo. Roll the ears in the cotija, then dust with extra smoked paprika.
- Serve hot with lime wedges to squeeze over the top.
03 · Linked objects
The things worth mentioning.
Links below may provide compensation to Marlowe & Tate.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Burlap and Barrel Smoked Pimenton Paprika
Half a teaspoon of this in the mayo is the difference between good corn and corn that smells like a fire in the best way.
Why we loved it: The flavor profile carries hardwood smoke and ripe tomato sweetness — exactly the warm note a grilled ear of corn wants. It comes from the same single-origin spice program as the cardamom in the cobbler, and it's just as worth it.
Worth knowing: It's a single-origin spice — costs more than a supermarket jar, but a jar lasts many batches.
See the exact item on Amazon
Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
Salt is what makes the corn taste more like itself — this is the selected option.
Why we loved it: The crystals are light and grabby, so you can season by feel as the mayo comes together. It's the salt selected for everyday use.
Worth knowing: It's a bigger box than you need at first, but it keeps forever and you'll use it daily.
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Yupanqui Organic Black Peppercorns
Fresh-cracked pepper is doing real work here — this one earns its keep.
Why we loved it: A few cracks of pepper in the mayo is the quiet move — and this one has the aroma to make a quarter teaspoon matter.
Worth knowing: It's a single-origin spice in a generous bag — costs more than the supermarket tin, but it stays whole and aromatic for months.
See the exact item on Amazon
Frantoia Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A slick of good oil on the grates separates clean grill marks from stuck husks; this bottle is suited to that first coat.
Why we loved it: It's peppery and green in the way fresh-pressed oil should be, and a slick on the grates keeps the husks from sticking. Everything after it builds on that pour.
Worth knowing: It's pricier than a big jug of everyday oil, so the selected option suits cooking dishes like this.
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Matfer Bourgeat Stainless Steel Fish Spatula/Turner
A thin, flexible turner is the difference between intact food and a pile of mush. This one does the job beautifully.
Why we loved it: The flexible blade lifts fragile things without crushing them, and the offset handle keeps your hand clear of the pan. It's the tool that makes the mid-roast toss look easy — the same turner professional kitchens have used for generations.
Worth knowing: Hand-wash only, and the thin blade needs a careful hand for heavier foods.
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ZWILLING Prep 3-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Nesting Bowls Set
The small nesting bowl holds the whisked lime mayonnaise the elote-style corn gets brushed with.
Why we loved it: We love bowls that stay put on the counter, rims that pour cleanly, and a brushed stainless finish that hides routine scratches. They nest neatly, replacing a whole stack of stained plastic without making the cupboard feel crowded.
Worth knowing: Stainless is cold to the touch and not for the microwave, and the big bowl is heavy when full. Skip them if you need microwave-safe prep bowls.
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Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk, 11-Inch
The balloon head reaches the bottom of the bowl and incorporates air quickly.
Why we loved it: We love the sturdy build, comfortable handle, and balloon wires that hold their shape through heavy whisking.
Worth knowing: Hand washing is recommended; the large head needs drawer space.
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Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, 30 oz
Real mayonnaise makes the elote sauce rich and clingy.
Why we loved it: Real mayonnaise in the exact creamy condiment form used by the corn recipe.
Worth knowing: A thirty-ounce jar is larger than this single measured use; refrigerate after opening.
See the exact item on Amazon
