Charred elote and melted cheeses over tortilla chips, finished with cotija, cilantro and a smoky chipotle crema.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables & Base
01 - 4 cups sturdy tortilla chips
02 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned; drain canned)
03 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
04 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Dairy & Cheeses
07 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
→ Chipotle Crema
10 - 1/2 cup sour cream
11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 1 to 2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo, minced, to taste
13 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
14 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
15 - Salt, to taste
→ Finishing Touches
16 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
17 - Chili powder or smoked paprika, for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add the corn kernels and sauté without oil if using fresh or with a tablespoon of neutral oil if desired, stirring occasionally until lightly charred, about 5 minutes; remove from heat.
03 - Spread the tortilla chips in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet to create a single couverture for uniform melting.
04 - Scatter the charred corn, diced red onion, chopped jalapeño, shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar evenly over the chips to ensure consistent coverage.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted and are bubbling; monitor closely to prevent browning.
06 - While the chips bake, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, minced chipotle in adobo, lime juice, garlic powder and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth; adjust chipotle and salt to taste.
07 - Remove the tray from the oven, immediately sprinkle with crumbled cotija, chopped cilantro and sliced green onions; drizzle generously with chipotle crema, dust lightly with chili powder or smoked paprika and serve with lime wedges.
