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Sweet and savory corn fries are the ultimate snack or appetizer! Corn is skewered, fried until crispy, then dressed up with one of four seasonings: Plain, Masala, Mexican, or BBQ. You can also make traditional Mexican street corn fries by topping regular fries with cheese, Mexican spices, and sweet corn! Whichever way you make them, these vegan & gluten free fries vanish quickly!
If you haven't tried this easy corn fries recipe yet, you're in for a treat! The natural sweet flavor from the corn combined with the savory seasonings make this an addictive snack. Fresh corn is coated with flour then fried in a sizzling hot wok. They taste similar to corn fritters or hush puppies, only better!
These fries are amazing as-is, but even better with a hint of spice! My favorite is the delicious Mexican street corn-style, but masala, plain, or BBQ are all great too.
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My family devours this snack in seconds. They're easy to make too! It may seem difficult to skewer corn kernels onto toothpicks, but it's not. It's best to skewer the corn kernels while they're still on the cob. Then you can easily pull the corn away from the cob and you have turned corn kernels into fries!
You can also make these with regular french fries, and use the corn as a topping along with your favorite Mexican inspired toppings. There are so many ways to enjoy this easy recipe - great for a snack or side dish any time!
🧑🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Sweet yet savory flavor
- Only 4 ingredients plus spices
- Three seasoning options
- Easy and delicious snack recipe
- Dairy-Free, Vegan, & Gluten-Free
- Kid-friendly
- 4 different methods for making these fries!
- Crispy corn with Mexican spices!
- Better than waffle fries!
- Perfect side dish or appetizer
🥘 Ingredients
This recipe requires only four ingredients, plus seasoning! You can find these basic ingredients at your local grocery store.
Fresh Corn Cobs (or French Fries + Fresh Corn): For this recipe, the type of corn does matter. Canned and frozen corn won't work because we skewer the corn right off the cob onto a toothpick. It sounds tricky, but it's quick and simple! You can also use french fries as the base, and top with the fresh corn!
All-Purpose Flour: Flour gives the corn a crispy coating as it cooks in the oil. If you're on a gluten-free diet, replace it with gluten-free all-purpose flour or with rice flour.
Cornflour: Another term for cornstarch, cornflour combined with flour creates a tender but crispy coating!
Oil: Use a neutral oil with a high-smoke point. Vegetable, canola, coconut or peanut oil are great options. You can also use olive oil, but then you wouldn't want to fully fry the fries, and instead you'd want to use the oil to lightly pan fry them.
Seasonings: You have a choice of 4 different varieties of seasonings for additional flavor!
📖 Variations
This recipe is simple to customize. Try one of these delicious variations or just top with a few of your favorite things!
- Plain: Using either french fries topped with corn, or corn skewers, toss with salt, pepper and a little bit of melted butter (or vegan butter). Serve warm!
- Cheesy Corn Fries: Top the hot corn skewers with your favorite cheese! Feta cheese, parmesan, and salty cotija cheese are great options. I like to use lots of cheese! You can broil the fries for a couple of minutes in the oven after adding the cheese to get it melted and slightly crispy too!
- BBQ Corn Ribs Recipe: Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, salt, brown sugar, and black pepper in a small bowl. Toss with the fries. Feel free to use grilled corn as a base here for even more bbq flavor!
- Masala Corn Fries: Stir together garlic powder, chaat masala, amchoor powder, chili powder, turmeric, cumin, and salt in a small bowl. Toss with the fries.
🔪 Instructions
How To Make Mexican Street Corn Style FriesMake pre-made french fries according to package directions. Combine chili powder, oregano, smoked paprika, coriander, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and sugar in a small bowl.
Spread fries in an even layer on a baking sheet and toss with Mexican seasoning blend. Top with fresh corn kernels, shredded Mexican cheese or monterey jack cheese (or vegan cheese to keep it vegan), and fresh cilantro.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted, or broil for just a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly golden brown! For loaded elote fries, top with a drizzle of sour cream or Mexican crema, queso fresco cheese, or vegan sour cream, serve with lime wedges or a squeeze of fresh lime juice over top, and any of your favorite Mexican dipping sauces like guac or salsa too!
Prep: Remove the leaves and silk from the corn cobs.
Cut The Cobs: Place each cob horizontally on a cutting board. Cut the cob into three pieces, each slightly smaller than the length of a toothpick.
Spear: Set the cob facing up on the cutting board and carefully spear each row of corn with a toothpick.
Remove The Corn: Cut each corn cob in half vertically with a serrated knife. Use your fingers to gently pull the row of kernels from the cob.
Repeat until all the sweet corn kernels are removed from the cobs.
Boil The Skewers: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the skewers for 5 minutes. Drain the water and let it cool a little. This cooking process ensures the corn is sweet and tender before it's coated and fried.
Coat With Batter: In a large bowl, toss the fries with the all-purpose flour and cornflour.
Fry Until Crispy: Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan on medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering and hot, pan fry the skewers until crispy.
Carefully remove with small tongs and let the excess oil drain on a paper towel.
Prepare Seasoning: Choose your desired seasoning and mix in a small bowl. Toss with Seasoning: Toss the hot corn fries with the seasoning.
Add toppings like a squeeze of fresh lime juice, or your favorite Mexican toppings and enjoy immediately!
❓Recipe FAQs
Can I use frozen or canned corn?
If you are making Mexican street corn style fries, then yes, frozen or canned corn would be fine since you're using it as a topping. If you are turning the corn kernels into fries, then no, you must use corn on the cob. Otherwise, you won't be able to skewer the kernels quickly. It would be very tedious trying to skewer the kernels one kernel at a time!
Is fried corn healthy?
Fried foods should be enjoyed in moderation. Frying food adds a lot of fat and calories with little nutrients. Corn is packed with vitamins, fiber, and minerals, so it is a healthier option than some fried dishes - but it's still considered a fried food!
How do I serve homemade corn fries?
These fries make a great appetizer or snack! They're delicious as-is, but I like to add spices for even more flavor. Just be sure to enjoy them while they're still hot for the best taste and texture!
How should I store elote fries?
Store any leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warm and crisp. Don't reheat them in the microwave, or they can get a little greasy.
💭 Expert Tips
- Be sure to enjoy the fries while still hot! Just like any fried food, they will be the crispiest while hot. If you're making these using french fries with a corn topping, make sure to serve them right away when the cheese is hot, otherwise the fries will get soggy.
- You can prep the corn ahead of time so all you have to do is coat and fry. Place the skewers on a covered plate or in an airtight container until ready to use.
- If you make these during corn season, they're very budget-friendly. Corn cobs cost less than 50 cents when they're in season!
- Make sure to cut the cobs slightly smaller than the length of a toothpick. Otherwise, you won't have anything to hold onto.
- There's no need to use a knife to remove the kernels from the cob. Once the toothpick is inserted, gently pull the kernels away from the cob.
