Mexican street corn, or elotes, is one of the most beloved Mexican street foods outside of tacos.
Grilled or boiled corn is topped with a bold combination of ingredients which can include salt, chile powder, butter, cotija cheese, lime, mayonnaise, and crema, a Mexican sour cream.
In a stroke of genius, Empire Pizza & Pub has created the elote pizza.
The tomato-less pizza is topped with mozzarella, goat cheese, grilled corn, chipotle mayo, and Tajín.
Grilling the corn brings out a little more sweetness with some smokiness. Goat cheese provides a suitable creamy, tangy substitution for cotija. Chipotle mayo accentuates the earlier flavors, while Tajín and cilantro cut the richness with bright flavors.
It sounds bizarre in comparison to a slice of pepperoni pizza, but it’s magic. Stare into the eyes of skeptical eaters as they take a first bite and raise their eyebrows in delight.
Additionally, clumsy eaters can also rejoice because the slice is much less messy than traditional elotes. No more chile-mayo-cotija mustaches.
The elote pizza was introduced as the February pizza of the month, but unexpected popularity earned it a permanent spot on the menu.
Empire Pizza & Pub is located at 137 Congress St. For more information, call (520) 882-7499 or visit empire.pizza.