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    Home » Hunger

    Everything but the Elote Seasoning

    By Lauren on September 2, 2022 Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    collage of elote seasoning photos with pinterest graphic overlay. Individual spices on a rectangular plate and complete seasoning mix in a jar next to a plate of corn.

    Whether you've heard of it through Trader Joe's or you're just a fan of Mexican street corn, you will absolutely love this Everything but the Elote Seasoning! Flavors of chile, spice, sweet, cheesy goodness, and just of a touch of smoky chipotle blended together.

    Typically these flavors are used to season grilled corn topped with creamy sauce and cheese, also called Elote or Mexican Street Corn. Homemade elote seasoning is so easy to make and the heat from the spice is just right. Even my 4-year-old will sneak pieces of my salmon topped with this spice blend!

    close up photo of everything but the elote seasoning in a glass jar with a lid open on top of a blue background next to a cream colored linen napkin.

    Right now on the East Coast, particularly in New England, we're in peak corn season. So having this on hand is definitely a plus.

    If you don't live near Trader Joe's and you've heard all the raving about this seasoning, now you can just make your own! Or if you don't live near one and just want to be able to have this on hand, well here you go. Once you start using it you'll go through it surprisingly fast!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • What does elote seasoning taste like?
    • Making & Storing Your Seasoning
    • How to use it
    • Everything but the Elote Seasoning
    Cooked ears of corn cut in half stacked in a row on a rectangular plate. THe corn is drizzled with a creamy sauce and topped with cheese, cilantro, and seasoning. Plate is next to a jar of elote seasoning.

    Ingredients

    Great news! Homemade Trader Joe's Everything the Elote Seasoning can easily be made with many ingredients you likely already have hanging out in your spice cabinet.

    spices on a rectangular plate placed one next to the other.  Plate is on a blue background with a cream colored linen napkin.

    I tried to keep this recipe as close to the TJ's version as possible without knowning the exact portions. Which means I dissected the ingredient list, found comparable ingredients, and made no less than 6 batches until it was perfect. So I hope you love it!

    What you'll need and some helpful tidbits:

    Corn flour - Try to find the finest grind you can. I really like the Bob's Red Mill brand for this.

    Cane sugar - You can definitely substitute granulated sugar but the TJs recipe calls for cane sure and the crystals of cane sugar are slightly larger so the sweetness really spreads.

    Salt - Diamond crystal salt, traditional kosher salt, or sea salt are great choices.

    Paprika - While this isn't going to add a mind blowing amount of flavor it adds just a hint of sweet pepper taste, but more importantly that vibrant color.

    Chipotle pepper powder - This one is a little tricky to find right now. I had luck at whole foods, but you could also purchase chipotle powder via amazon (affiliate link!). Chipotle pepper powder is different than chili powder!

    Cumin - Don't skip the cumin! This powerhouse spice adds a deep flavor to round out the spice

    Ground coriander - Not the same as cilantro! Ground coriander is the ground seeds from the cilantro/coriander plant. It is a perfect flavor pairing with cumin.

    Parmesan cheese - I'm going to recommend two different products for this. First, if you have the patience, I'd highly recommend purchasing parmesan cheese powder (affiliate link) so that your spice is shelf stable and stored at room temperature. The texture is also very fine (hence, powder), and will get your seasoning mix as close to a copycat as possible.

    If you don't have the patience, buy the finest grated parmesan cheese you can at the store.

    Amarillo seasoning (optional) - This one is totally optional, but I really loved the color and just a hint of savory taste it added.

    Individual spices on a rectangular plate shot through corn leaves so some of the view is obstructed.  Ears of corn in the background behind the plate.

    What does elote seasoning taste like?

    It taste a little smoky, a little sweet, with a touch of heat, blended with traditional Mexican flavors like cumin and coriander all laced with a subtle cheesy taste.

    Making & Storing Your Seasoning

    Truly, it can't get any easier than this.

    overhead images of elote seasoning ingredients in a large glass bowl being mixed with a stainless steel whisk

    Add all your ingredients to a bowl. Mix with a whisk until completely combined.

    overhead image of seasoning in a flip top glass jar next to a cream colored linen napkin

    Store in an airtight container. You're done!

    Hint: Store in an airtight container! Moisture will make the seasoning stick together. If it does stick together, give it a shake to loosen it.

    How to use it

    One of the best things about having this on hand is it can be used on so many things!

    Use homemade elote seasoning to add flavor to fish (salmon is my favorite!) or chicken, sprinkle over popcorn, and of course, use it to season vegetables like corn.

    Straight on angle of mexican street corn in a row on a rectangular plate. The corn is topped with a creamy drizzle of sauce, crumbled cheese, and chopped cilantro.

    One of my go-to favorites is sautéing black beans with elote seasoning and serving it with this chipotle chicken over salad with my absolute favorite smoky honey lime dressing.

    You can also mix it into creamy sauces like mayonnaise, sour cream, etc for a savory aioli sauce to drizzle or dip!

    Be sure to let me know how you decide to use it so I can try it too!!

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below! Don't forget to tag me @hungerthirstplay on social media so I can see your delicious eats!

    close up photo of everything but the elote seasoning in a glass jar with a lid open on top of a blue background next to a cream colored linen napkin.

    Everything but the Elote Seasoning

    This Trader Joe's copycat seasoning is easy to make with ingredients you likely already have at home. Use it to add a touch of smoky, sweet spice to protein, vegetables, popcorn, and more!
    5 from 2 votes
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    Course: Seasoning
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: elote seasoning, homemade spice mix, trader joe's copycat
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Total Time: 5 mins
    Servings: 1 cup
    Calories: 422kcal
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    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup corn flour
    • ¼ cup cane sugar
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese (powder or grated)
    • 2 tablespoons paprika
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons chipotle pepper powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

    Instructions

    • Add all the ingredients to a medium size mixing bowl. Whisk together, until spices are completely blended.
    • Transfer the spice mix to an air tight container. If using parmesan powder, store at room temperature. If using grated parmesan cheese, store in the fridge for 1 month.

    Notes

    • Parmesan cheese powder is my preferred cheese ingredient for this recipe because its shelf stable and does not need to be refrigerated.  It's also super fine, so the final product's texture is much more like a typical seasoning blend. 
    • If you can't get your hands on parmesan cheese powder, use the finest grated parmesan you can.
    • Chipotle pepper powder and chili powder are two different things with two different tastes, the chili powder flavor is more robust with more heat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 7448mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 1978IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 378mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Hi, I'm Lauren! This is my slice of the internet to share seasonally-inspired recipes. I live in the heart of New England with my husband, two kiddos, English bulldog and our two local restaurants. Life is busy AND delicious!

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