Hi friends! We’re deep in the heart of corn season and I couldn’t be happier about it. This week’s recipe is a riff on one of my favorite street food snacks: esquites!! But made baby-friendly for little mouths like Finn’s. And spoiler: it’s been such a hit at home, even without teeth.
Wait, what are esquites?
If you’ve never had esquites before, they’re basically Mexican street corn off the cob. Usually it’s sautéed corn mixed with mayo, lime juice, chili powder, cheese, and cilantro. It’s bright, salty, creamy, and a little spicy and just the kind of snack you want to eat outside on a hot day.
How I baby-ified it
Clearly we’re not feeding Finn mayo and cotija (too dry) just yet, so I swapped the traditional ingredients for things he would enjoy. I sauté the corn in butter, season it lightly with lime and chili-lime seasoning (just a tiny pinch), and blend it with ripe avocado for a super creamy, scoopable texture. It’s the best of all worlds… bright, smooth, a little herby from the chives, and just chunky enough to keep things interesting.
I usually serve it with some tiny cubes of soft cheese (mozzarella or mild cheddar work great) and a few pieces of chicken or steak that Finn can grab and gum himself. We’re still working with zero teeth over here. I’m convinced my body forgot to make them.
Why corn rules
Corn is such a great food for this age! It’s sweet, it’s seasonal, and it’s full of fiber, folate, and vitamin C. Plus, it introduces a new texture and flavor to your baby’s palate. When blended with avocado (which is rich in healthy fats), it becomes the kind of velvety mash that’s both nourishing and easy to eat. Total win.
Baby Esquites
You’ll need:
Fresh corn (3 ears)
1-2 tbsps unsalted butter
1 lime
Dalkin&Co Chile Lime seasoning (or a pinch of mild chili powder)
Chives
1 ripe avocado
Optional: small cubes of cheese, soft chicken or steak for serving
To make:
Cut the kernels off 3 ears of corn.
Sauté in 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat until warm and just barely golden.
Squeeze in the juice of 1 lime, add a small pinch of Chile Lime seasoning (optional), and a tiny pinch of salt if your baby is eating salt.
Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped chives.
Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and add 1 ripe avocado. Blend until creamy but still textured.
To serve:
Spoon into a bowl and serve with soft cheese cubes and finely chopped or shredded chicken or steak. Great warm or room temp.
Back next week with something peachy!
xx,
Gaby
Hey! Have you ever tried to take the blended corn and bake it into patties? I’m trying to think of foods I can make a little more “portable” and this one had me thinking.
Looks delicious!