Cinco de Mayo Corn Flatbread (Printable Version)

Charred corn and cotija on crisp flatbread, finished with creamy jalapeño-lime crema and cilantro.

# What You Need:

→ Flatbread

01 - 2 pre-made flatbread crusts (naan or pizza base)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Street Corn Topping

03 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained)
04 - 1 tablespoon butter
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta as a substitute)
11 - 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

→ Jalapeño Crema

14 - 1/2 cup sour cream
15 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
16 - 1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and chopped
17 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
18 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
19 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# How-To:

01 - Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
02 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the corn kernels and sauté for 4–5 minutes until lightly charred. Season with smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a food processor or blender, blend sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped jalapeño, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl.
04 - Brush each flatbread crust lightly with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet.
05 - Evenly distribute the charred corn over the flatbreads. Top with red onion slices and half of the cotija cheese.
06 - Bake in the oven for 8–10 minutes or until the flatbread is crisped and the toppings are warm.
07 - Remove from the oven. Drizzle generously with jalapeño crema and garnish with remaining cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Serve hot with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that irresistible elote flavor without having to fire up the grill or wrestle with cobs.
  • The zippy crema and salty cotija magically transform plain flatbread into something special—even on an ordinary weeknight.
02 -
  • If your corn isn’t really charred, the flavor falls flat—turn up that skillet heat and let it get some real color.
  • I once topped a flatbread while it was still cold and the result was a bit soggy, so always bake the base on a hot oven rack, not a sheet, for extra crispiness.
03 -
  • Charring your corn in batches keeps it from steaming and ensures every kernel gets caramelized and smoky.
  • Finishing the flatbread with lime right after baking, not before, stops the crust from getting soggy and keeps flavors fresh.
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