Elote-Style Sweet Corn Ravioli in Chili Butter Sauce

What is Elote

Mexican street corn or elote is a specialty that can found all over LA. It’s served everywhere from trendy restaurants to street vendors. The corn is traditionally served on the cob on a stick rubbed with a mayonnaise, chili powder and cotija mixture. This recipe uses those flavors and turns it into a summer ravioli entrée.

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

• Corn – I love making the most of sweet summer corn picked up from local farm stands. When buying ears corn, look for a bright green husk that is tight around the corn. Feel the kernels through the husk, they should be plump. (I like to peel back a section of the husk to double check the kernels.) Look at the tassel (the strings at the top), it should be yellow or light brown – it should have a sweet smell.
• Queso fresco – Queso fresco is a soft cow’s milk cheese used in Mexican dishes to balance spicy flavors. Here it’s served in the filling as well as crumbled over the top of the ravioli.
• Lime – The lime zest is the grated outer skin from the citrus to add a concentrated flavor. Use a zester or microplane to remove the zest. If you don’t have a zester use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to remove the rind and finely chop it. 

How to Make Sweet Corn Ravioli

1. Cook the corn. Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat through. Add the corn and cook until slightly charred, stirring occasionally. Remove and set aside. Reserve 1 cup of the kernels for serving.
2. Make the filling. Add the rest of the corn to a food processor with 1 egg and queso fresco, pulsing until creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Make the filling ahead of time and freeze until ready to use for up to 1 month.
3. Roll out the pasta dough. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and cover with plastic wrap. Dust a clean surface with semolina flour (or cornmeal) and working one piece at a time, flatten the dough into a 5″x4″ oval. Roll the dough through a pasta machine at the widest setting. Fold the dough in thirds (like a letter) and run it through the machine again. Continue to roll the dough through the machine, reducing the setting to narrower settings each time until it is 1/16″ thick. You should be able to see your hand through the dough.
4. Fill the ravioli. Cut the sheet in half crosswise. Starting one inch from the short edge, spoon 1 tablespoon of the corn filling down the length of the dough spacing them about 1” apart. In a small bowl whisk together the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water.
5. Cut the ravioli. Brush the filling with the egg wash and cover with the second piece of the dough, pressing around each round so no extra air remains. Use a sharp knife to cut the ravioli into 2” inch squares. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to use. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
6. Cook the ravioli. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the ravioli and cook until the ravioli rises to the top and are al dente. Drain then toss with the remaining olive oil and set aside.
7. Sauté shallots. Heat a medium sauté pan over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat through. Add the shallots and sauté until tender.
8. Finish the chili butter sauce. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half. Add the butter one tablespoon at a time, whisking to combine. Whisk in the chili powder and cayenne.
9. Serve. Divide ravioli among plates and drizzle with the chili butter sauce. Top with the remaining charred corn, queso fresco, lime zest and cilantro.

Tips and Tricks for This Recipe

How to Store Uncooked Ravioli

• Any uncooked ravioli can be dusted with semolina or cornmeal and frozen until ready to use.
• Don’t refrigerate the ravioli or they can become mushy and fall apart when cooked.
• Or make the filling ahead of time and freeze until ready to use for up to 1 month.