Description
These Spicy Mexican Corn Bites are crispy, golden fritters bursting with the flavors of chili, cumin, and smoked paprika. Made with a combination of corn kernels, flour, and cheese, they offer a delightful spicy kick balanced by fresh cilantro and lime. Perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish, these bites are quick to prepare and fried to crispy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen corn kernels (or fresh corn, cooked)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Wet Ingredients and Add-ins
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup grated cotija cheese (or Parmesan cheese as a substitute)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (for garnish)
Optional Garnishes
- Additional chili powder
- Additional cotija cheese
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
- Mix Wet Ingredients and Corn: Add the eggs, milk, and chopped cilantro to the dry mixture, stirring until smooth. Gently fold in the corn kernels and grated cotija cheese, ensuring the corn is evenly incorporated throughout the batter.
- Heat Oil: Warm the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering.
- Fry Corn Bites: Spoon tablespoon-sized portions of the batter into the hot skillet, flattening each slightly with the back of the spoon to form small fritters. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Drain Excess Oil & Garnish: Remove the fried bites from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Drizzle with fresh lime juice and sprinkle with extra chili powder and cotija cheese as desired.
- Serve: Serve the corn bites warm, ideal as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. Pair with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for dipping.
Notes
- Use fresh corn for a sweeter flavor if available, but frozen corn works well too.
- Adjust chili powder quantity to control the spiciness level.
- For a vegetarian option, use vegetable oil and skip any non-vegetarian garnishes.
- If desired, Parmesan cheese can be used instead of cotija cheese.
- Make sure the oil is sufficiently hot to achieve crispy bites without them absorbing too much oil.
- These bites are best eaten fresh but can be reheated in a skillet or oven to maintain crispiness.
