Cozy Creamy Mexican Street Corn Soup Recipe for Cold Days

Corn kernels burst with flavor in this delectable Mexican street corn soup that captures the essence of vibrant street food.

Summer’s best ingredients dance together in a rich, smooth blend of textures and spices.

Charred corn brings an authentic smokiness that elevates every spoonful with genuine street-style magic.

Sweet corn mingles with creamy broth, creating a comforting dish that transports you straight to a bustling Mexican marketplace.

Fresh herbs and a hint of lime add brightness to this soul-warming soup.

Each serving promises a delightful culinary journey that celebrates the bold, zesty spirit of Mexican cuisine.

Prepare to savor every creamy, mouth-watering bite of this irresistible soup.

Why You’ll Love Corn Street Soup

• Layered with robust Mexican street corn profile, this soup delivers an explosion of taste through carefully sautéed vegetables, toasted spices, and creamy ingredients that dance together beautifully.
• Designed for home cooks of all skill levels, the recipe offers simple step-by-step instructions that transform basic ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish without requiring advanced culinary expertise.
• Versatile recipe allows personal touches with optional garnishes like extra cheese, crema, or chile powder, making it adaptable to individual preferences and perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
• Packed with vegetables, corn, and balanced spices, this soup provides a hearty, wholesome meal that delivers maximum flavor with minimal kitchen cleanup and effort.

What Goes into Corn Street Soup

• Corn: A sweet and essential ingredient that gives the soup its classic Mexican street corn flavor.
• Chicken Stock: The liquid base that provides depth and richness to the soup.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious and smooth texture for the soup.
• Potatoes: Adds thickness and helps create a hearty consistency.

• Onion, Celery, Poblano Pepper: A flavor base that builds a robust foundation for the soup.
• Garlic: Provides a pungent and aromatic element to enhance the overall taste.

• Chile Powder, Oregano, Salt, Pepper: Spices that add warmth and complexity to the soup.
• Sugar: Balances the spice and enhances the corn's natural sweetness.
• Cotija Cheese, Cilantro, Lime Juice: Bright and tangy toppings that bring freshness and depth.
• Crema: A creamy garnish that adds an extra layer of richness.

Cooking Steps for Corn Street Soup

Step 1: Prepare Flavor Foundation

In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt butter.

• Finely chopped onion
• Chopped celery
• Diced poblano pepper

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Sauté for 7-8 minutes until vegetables become soft and translucent, releasing their delicious aromas.

Step 2: Wake Up the Spices

Add minced garlic, chile powder, and oregano to the pot.

Stir and cook for about 1 minute until the spices become incredibly fragrant and toasty.

Step 3: Build the Soup Base

Pour chicken stock into the pot and add diced potatoes.

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.

Cook for approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes become tender and easily mashed with a fork.

Step 4: Introduce Corn and Creaminess

Stir in corn kernels, heavy cream, and a touch of sugar.

Cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the corn to heat through and the flavors to meld together perfectly.

Step 5: Create Silky Smooth Texture

Remove about 1½ cups of soup and blend until completely smooth.

Return the blended portion to the pot, stirring to create a luxurious, creamy consistency.

Step 6: Add Final Flavor Boosters

• Crumbled cotija cheese
• Minced cilantro
• Fresh lime juice

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.

Step 7: Dress and Serve

• Extra cotija cheese
• Sprinkle of chile powder
• Dollop of crema
• Fresh cilantro

Serve with lime wedges on the side for an extra burst of brightness.

Tips to Get Corn Street Soup Just Right

• Sauté vegetables slowly to develop a rich, deep base that elevates the entire soup's taste profile.
• Toast spices briefly to release their essential oils, creating a more intense and complex flavor experience.
• Partially blend the soup to achieve a luxurious, velvety consistency without using additional thickeners.
• Add a touch of sugar to complement the corn's natural sweetness and harmonize with spicy undertones.
• Layer final toppings to create textural contrast and enhance the visual appeal of the Mexican street corn soup.

Keeping Corn Street Soup Tasty Later

• Store the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for up to 2-3 months for best quality.
• Warm gently over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of chicken stock or water if the soup seems too thick.
• Pour soup into a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly heated.

Great Sides for Corn Street Soup

• Pair Spicy Margaritas: Mix tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and a dash of habanero sauce for a fiery cocktail that mirrors the soup's Mexican street corn flavors.
• Complement with Crisp Slaw: Create a tangy Mexican-style coleslaw with cabbage, radishes, and lime dressing to provide a crunchy, refreshing counterpoint to the creamy soup.
• Match with Jalapeño Cornbread: Bake a slightly spicy cornbread featuring fresh corn kernels and diced jalapeños, echoing the soup's core ingredients and adding a warm, textural companion.
• Enhance with Mexican Beer Pairing: Serve an ice-cold Mexican lager like Modelo Especial or Pacifico, whose light, crisp profile cuts through the soup's richness and cleanses the palate.

Street Corn Soup Recipe Twists

• Vegetarian Corn Soup: Replace chicken stock with vegetable broth and use plant-based butter. This version maintains the rich, creamy texture while catering to vegetarian preferences.
• Dairy-Free Mexican Street Corn Soup: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk and use nutritional yeast instead of cotija cheese. Coconut milk adds a subtle sweetness and keeps the soup creamy.
• Gluten-Free Spicy Corn Chowder: Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free. Use gluten-free stock and skip any potential gluten-containing seasonings. This adaptation makes the soup safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Low-Sodium Mexican Corn Soup: Reduce salt content by using low-sodium stock and omitting added salt. Replace cotija with a sprinkle of fresh herbs for flavor complexity without extra sodium.

FAQs

• What are the key flavor-building ingredients in this Mexican Street Corn Soup?

The key flavor builders are poblano pepper, onion, celery, garlic, chile powder, and oregano. These ingredients create a rich, aromatic base that gives the soup its distinctive Mexican street corn flavor profile.

• Why does the recipe blend a portion of the soup?

Blending 1½ cups of the soup creates a smooth, creamy texture without using a traditional roux or additional thickeners. This technique naturally thickens the soup and helps incorporate all the flavors more seamlessly.

• How does the sugar contribute to the soup's taste?

The small amount of sugar helps enhance the corn’s natural sweetness and balances the spicy notes from the chile powder. It creates a more rounded, complex flavor without making the soup taste overtly sweet.

• What makes cotija cheese important in this recipe?

Cotija cheese adds a classic Mexican street corn flavor and provides a salty, tangy element. It complements the creamy soup and brings an authentic touch to the dish, mimicking traditional elote (Mexican street corn) flavors.

Creamy Mexican Street Corn Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Spicy Mexican street corn soup brings fiesta flavors straight to your kitchen, blending roasted corn, smoky chiles, and rich cream. Silky textures and bold southwestern spices promise a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with every spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 4 cups chicken stock
• 6 cups corn (or two 12-ounce bags frozen)
• 3 medium yukon gold potatoes (about 1 lb), peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1 medium poblano pepper, deseeded, stemmed, and finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Seasoning and Finishing Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon chile powder (with extra for sprinkling)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup cilantro, minced (with extra for garnish)
• 1/2 cup mexican crema or sour cream
• Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• Lime wedges for serving

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Instructions

1. Craft the flavor foundation by melting butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté onion, celery, and poblano pepper with salt and pepper for 7-8 minutes until vegetables soften and become fragrant.
2. Introduce aromatic spices by stirring in minced garlic, chile powder, and oregano. Toast for approximately 1 minute until the spices release their intense, robust aroma.
3. Create the soup base by adding chicken stock and diced potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes, occasionally stirring until potatoes become tender and easily mashed.
4. Incorporate corn, heavy cream, and a touch of sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the corn to heat through and the sugar to enhance the natural sweetness of the kernels.
5. Transform the soup’s texture by carefully removing 1½ cups of the mixture and blending until completely smooth. Reintegrate the puréed portion back into the pot, creating a luxurious, creamy consistency.
6. Elevate the flavor profile by stirring in crumbled cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, and a vibrant splash of lime juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to achieve the perfect balance of flavors.
7. Present the soup in individual bowls, garnishing with additional cotija, a dusting of chile powder, a dollop of crema, and fresh cilantro. Accompany with lime wedges to allow diners to add an extra zesty brightness.

Notes

• Soften vegetables slowly to develop a rich, deep flavor foundation for the soup, allowing natural sugars to caramelize and enhance overall taste.
• Use fresh corn when possible for the most vibrant, sweet flavor, but frozen corn works perfectly as a convenient alternative.
• Consider adding protein like shredded chicken or crispy bacon as a topping for extra texture and hearty satisfaction.
• Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing chile powder, making the soup adaptable for mild or bold palate preferences.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 650 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg