High-Protein Vegetarian Elote Recipe
Spicy sauce slathered on grilled corn on the cob. What’s not to love? Just the description makes you crave Elote – a street food snack. This enticing Mexican street food is now transformed into a high-protein Elote Bowl with simple ingredient additions. A full meal that will make you dream of the leftovers. Aside from the irresistible taste of Elote corn, there are some healthy reasons to indulge in this flavorful dish. It’s a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals and packed with protein and fiber thanks to corn, beans and quinoa.
What is Elotes & Esquites?
Elotes began in Mexico City and are now served as a snack throughout Mexico and some US cities. It is famously served on a stick as an on-the-go snack. There is an off-the-cob version of this dish called esquites, served in a cup. Elotes and esquites are derived from the Nahuatl language, the American Indian language of the Uto-Aztecan civilization in central and western Mexico. The word elote means tender cob, and esquite means toasted corn. This grain is such a vital part of the food culture in Mexico that there are five words for corn: mazorca, elote, choclo, jojoto, and marlo. If all the indigenous languages are included, there are 68 words for corn in Mexico!
Elote Bowl Ingredients and Substitutions
- Quinoa is one of the healthiest foods in the world. This nutrient-packed grain is a seed from a flowering plant in the Andes. It’s gluten-free and rich in iron, fiber, vitamins, and protein. It has a nutty flavor, like brown rice, and a crunchy texture. Run fresh water over raw quinoa in a mesh strainer before cooking to rinse off the bitter taste of naturally occurring saponin. If your package says pre-washed, you can omit this step. Quinoa comes in white, black, red, and tri-color. Any of these will work for this recipe.
- Chickpeas or garbanzo beans add fiber and protein to the recipe. They are also roasted in the oven to enhance the nutty flavor and provide a crunch.
- Limes – fresh limes provide the benefit of adding fresh zest (peel) and juice.
- Frozen Corn or Frozen Roasted Corn is extra convenient and allows you to make this vibrant dish year-round. Of course, fresh corn is always superior and outstanding when in season, but I crave this recipe so much that I look for the “easy button” option.
- Radishes – raw radishes are fresh and spicy, adding crunch and color to the recipe.
- Cilantro – no substitutions. If you do not like this herb, omit it.
- Jalapenos, add crunch and heat. If you are heat-adverse, You can omit them, but removing the membranes and seeds will diminish most heat. They also keep the dish closer to its Mexican roots.
- Greek Yogurt – I use Greek Yogurt in the sauce because it is always in my refrigerator. A traditional recipe would use sour cream or Mexican crema. Use the most easily obtained ingredient for your household to simplify your life. If you like to make homemade Mexican Crema, try this recipe from A Couple of Cooks. Warning, it takes a few days!
- Avocado Mayonnaise adds a tangy richness to the sauce. I use Primal Kitchen Avocado Mayonnaise, but you can add your favorite brand. If you are watching fat calories, consider omitting the mayo and double the quantity of yogurt.
- Parmesan Cheese, Cotija Cheese, or Queso Fresco are great alternatives. I always have Parmesan, so that is my go-to ingredient.
- Cayenne Pepper adds a delightful punch, but you can also use chili powder or Tajin Classico Seasoning, a popular Mexican seasoning blend of chili peppers, lime, and sea salt.
- Pepita Seeds (pumpkin seeds) provide crunch and beneficial nutrients.
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Game Day Party Food
Have fun and change the color scheme to match your favorite sports team. Quinoa comes in black, red, or white. I used black quinoa, carrots, or orange peppers for a Bengals theme party during the playoffs. The color combinations are endless to match your themed event by incorporating different color garnishes and veggies.
Recipe Variations for Easy Elote Bowl
- Add a spoonful of pepita pesto – get the recipe from the Black Bean and Plantain Stew with Pepita Pesto. I often make these two dishes in the same week to take full advantage of making this delicious pesto sauce on two meals.
- For a more traditional Mexican Elote recipe, grill the whole ears of corn on the outdoor grill, cutting off the kernels after grilling.
- Spice it up. Cut the jalapenos crosswise to include the membranes and seeds to get more heat!
- Shortcuts – use pre-cooked quinoa from a packet or meal prep quinoa earlier in the week.
- Vegan – Substitute yogurt, mayonnaise, and cheese for vegan-friendly ingredients.
- Meat Lovers – add slices of chicken. Try it with Grilled Chicken Breast with Ginger Lime Marinade.
- SCD – too many ingredients are illegal to transform this recipe into a Specific Carbohydrate-compliant meal.
- Mediterranean: Use a Mediterranean diet-compliant mayonnaise or make homemade. You can also omit mayonnaise and double the yogurt. Use Parmesan cheese rather than Cotija or Queso Fresco in the lime sauce.
- Low-Carb Diet: use this recipe for special occasions or as a side dish with another lean protein and a healthy salad. It has 87 grams of carbohydrates—see the nutritional panel.
- Gluten-Free – no substitutions needed, but double-check your mayonnaise label for compliance.
- Paleo – too many ingredients are not permitted to swap out and make it work on a paleo diet -no corn, dairy, beans, or grain allowed.
Equipment Needed
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Recipe Steps
1
Rinse quinoa with water in a mesh sieve.
2
Cook quinoa in a small saucepan until the water is absorbed - 17 - 20 minutes.
3
Roast garbanzo beans on a sheet pan with olive oil and seasoning.
4
Cook frozen corn in skillet until charred in some spots.
5
Gather Easy Elote Bowl components to assemble in a serving bowl.
6
Serve Easy Elote Bowl with garnishes on top.
More Reasons to Love this Recipe
This Vegetarian Elote Dinner Bowl recipe is a high-protein meal with 26 grams of protein. It is also high in fiber with 16 grams, which meets 53% of the recommended daily allowance. It’s also loaded with vitamins and minerals—check out the nutritional panel below the recipe. Leftovers are outstanding in tacos and quesadillas, or add some diced avocado and dip it with tortilla chips. Make this Mexican street corn-inspired recipe a regular meal.
Another high-protein vegetarian meal is Baked Zucchini Fritters with Creamy Yogurt Sauce.
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Easy Elote Bowl – Mexican Street Corn Power Meal
Grilled corn with creamy lime sauce and crunchy chickpeas piled on nutty quinoa. This famous Mexican street food is now a complete dinner with this Easy Elote Bowl recipe. This recipe is adapted from Purple Carrot, a Vegan Meal Kit company.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stove and oven
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed – any color, white, red, black, or tri-color
- 1 2/3 cups water or vegetable broth
- 13–ounce chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- 2 limes(s) zested and juiced
- 1 lime quartered for garnish
- 12-oz bag of frozen corn, roasted or regular
- 4 radishes
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 2 jalapeno(s), trimmed, deseeded, and diced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup avocado mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup pepita (pumpkin) seeds
Instructions
- Prep Chickpeas: Preheat the oven to 400º. Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Cook Quinoa: Rinse quinoa under water in a mesh sieve. Add water or broth to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the quinoa, cover the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Cook until all water is absorbed, 17 – 20 minutes.
- Prep Ingredients – Zest and juice the lime. Thinly slice the radishes. Roughly chop the cilantro. Trim, deseed, and mince the jalapenos. If you want more heat, slice the jalapenos crosswise, leaving membranes and seeds intact. Wash your hands and the cutting board after handling jalapenos.
- Combine Elote Sauce: Combine yogurt, mayonnaise, cheese, lime juice, zest, and cayenne pepper. Stir to mix.
- Roast Chickpeas: Add chickpeas to a sheet pan, pour olive oil over beans, and combine. Sprinkle with paprika. Place in a preheated oven and roast for 15 minutes. Transfer roasted chickpeas to a serving bowl. Add the remaining lime juice, zest, and jalapenos to the chickpeas.
- Cook corn – Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet (cast iron or nonstick) on medium-high. A cast iron skillet can handle more heat. Most nonstick pans should not use high heat. Add frozen corn and heat until cooked, about 4 – 5 minutes. Frozen corn does not char very well. Frozen roasted corn is very convenient and the preferred ingredient.*
- Make the Bowls – Divide the quinoa amount into four bowls; top each bowl with chickpea mixture and corn. Drizzle with Elote sauce, and garnish with radishes, cilantro, and pepita seeds. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and salt and pepper. Olé!
Notes
*Use roasted frozen corn with the grill markings, if available at your grocery store.
Store leftovers in a covered dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It is good hot or cold as a leftover. Store the Elote sauce (yogurt sauce) separate from the corn dish.
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4 responses to “Easy Elote Bowl – Mexican Street Corn Power Meal”
Wow this looks SO delicious. Making my grocery list now.
Lynn, great that this made your grocery list. Please let us know the results.
I absolutely love this recipe. Very fun to eat with lots of flavorful layers.
Great to hear you love it! :)