Mexican · snack
Esquites (Elote en Vaso)
Esquites (Elote en Vaso) reads citrus 6.4, sourness 6.4 and richness 5.9 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Mexican snack, about 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 4.3 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.2 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 8.4 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 0.8 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.2 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 2.4 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Citrus 6.4 · Sourness 6.4 · Richness 5.9 · Salinity 3.9 · Umami 2.8 · Heat 2.3 · Sweetness 2.2 · Funk & Ferment 1.1 · Nutty 1.0 · Herbaceous 0.8 · Warm Spice 0.8 · Bitterness 0.7 · Earthy 0.6
What's in it (8)
- 3 cups corn kernels
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 sprigs epazote
- 1/4 cup crema
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese crumbled
- salt to taste
Time & effort: about 15 min (10 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 136.7 kcal, 4 g protein, 7.9 g fat, 12.7 g carbs
Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Saute corn in butter with a sprig of epazote and a pinch of salt until slightly charred.
- Spoon into cups and stir in a dollop of crema or mayo, a squeeze of lime, and chili powder.
- Top with crumbled cotija cheese and more chili powder to taste.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Bake and Shark — Trinidadian
- Soup Joumou — Haitian
- Saganaki — Greek
- Peruvian Crab Causa — Peruvian
- Carciofi alla Giudia — Italian · Rome
Keep reading: what citrus, sourness, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.