Esquites con Tuétano (or Mexican Corn with Bone Marrow) is Mexican street food at its best. Follow the step-by-step pictures below and/or watch the video to recreate this rich and delicious dish at home.

Disclosure: This a sponsored post in collaboration with Rumba Meats.

Can I get a round of applause for Mexican street food? Better yet, can I get a standing ovation?!! These Esquites con Tuétano is all the rage in Mexico City. Lines wrapped around the corner. Mexican street food stands run out of this amazing deliciousness every single night.

Don’t book your flight yet. You can easily make this at home. It gets even easier when you order an Amazon package from Rumba Meats, and it shows up right at your door.

I ordered the Rumba Meats Beef Bone Broth Box, Oxtail, Hindshank, and Marrow Bones, Frozen (Pack of 6). Everything arrived in an insulated box to keep them nice and cold. The bones are also vacuum-sealed, keeping in the freshness. Check out my Instagram stories to see my unboxing video.

See the center of the bones. That is pure fatty goodness!

Remove the Rumba Meats Beef Marrow Bones from the package and set them aside. These are the same bones that you use to make Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks and
Caldo de Res.

In a large stock pot, add the Rumba Meats Beef Marrow Bones. Epazote is one of those herbs that’s sooooo Mexican. I love the smell! Especially when it lingers on my hands… mmm! You will also need half an onion and garlic cloves. Not necessary to chop up this half of onion.

Lots and lots of water. Enough to cover the bones. We are making a broth and cooking the bones. You will have broth leftover. If you don’t use it right away, you can freeze it for later.

Beef bouillon or chicken bouillon. Either will work in this case. If you don’t want to use it, you can also use regular salt.

Grind up some pepper and add to the pot.

Oregano leaves is what I had in the cupboard, but you can also use ground oregano.

Put a lid and let this cook for 20 minutes. In essence, you’re making a beef bone soup that everyone loves and enjoys. I make it when someone in my family is sick. Move over, chicken soup! 🙂

Now, in a separate stock pot. Add the butter. Chopped diced onion sauteed in butter… Everything is bettah with buttah!

Time for some more epazote. This time, I chopped it up. If you’re a big epazote fan, you can add more. Some people don’t really like it because it has a very strong flavor. You can omit altogether if that’s the case.

Let this cook for 1 minute. Then add the corn. Fresh corn is best so it can absorb the bone marrow flavor, but I used frozen corn. If you are using fresh corn, cook for 5 minutes longer.

When being corny is good. LOL. Summer time is corn season. Fresh is good, but frozen corn is something I almost always have on hand. By the way, they freeze the corn during the season. That’s why frozen corn tastes so good.

Ladle in some of the beef bone broth from the other pot. I added only 1 cup of broth. Make sure not to make it too soupy. You are looking for a chunky, corn consistency.

Next up, add the cooked bone marrow bones. You really want that bone marrow flavor. Let this cook for a few minutes before assembling your Esquites con Tuétano. This is also the time to taste for salt. Add it if necessary.

To assemble your Esquites con Tuétano, you need a cup. I know, I know this is a dessert cup. We are indulging after all. Start by adding a few tablespoons of corn.

One tablespoon of mayonnaise. If you don’t like it, you can also use crema mexicana or sour cream.

I love the tanginess that lime juice gives. It also adds freshness. Another thing to note: In Mexico, we mainly use key limes. In a pinch, you can also use yellow lemons.

Using a knife or a spoon, push in the bone marrow and out of the bone. Fatty and creamy and heavenly! Ooooh yes!

It wouldn’t be Esquites con Tuétano without chile powder. If you’re into spicy, you can add a spicier chile like chile de arbol powder.

Repeat in layers until your cup is full. How many layers you add depend on your cup. Some people will add Queso Cotija or Queso Fresco to their Mexican corn cups, but this totally optional. Hope you enjoy these rich and creamy Esquites con Tuétano!!

Yield: 4

Esquites con Tuétano

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Esquites con Tuétano (or Mexican Corn with Bone Marrow) is Mexican street food at its best. A rich and delicious dish at home that's easy to recreate at home.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 6-8 Rumba Meats Beef Marrow Bones
• 1 sprig epazote + 4 chopped epazote leaves (divided)
• 2 garlic cloves
• ½ onion + ½ diced onion (divided)
• 6 cups of water
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon (can also use chicken bouillon)
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ½ stick butter
• 2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 8 tablespoons mayonnaise
• Juice of 4 limes
• Salt to taste
• Chile powder to taste
• Queso Cotija (optional)

Instructions

In a large pot, add the Rumba Meats Beef Marrow Bones, 1 sprig epazote, garlic cloves, and ½ onion.

Add water, pepper, bouillon, and oregano.

Cover and cook for 20 minutes.

In a separate pot, add butter, ½ diced onion, and chopped epazote.

Cook for 1 minute or until onion is translucent, stirring frequently.

Add corn kernels.

Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Ladle about 2 cups of the beef marrow broth into the pot with the corn mixture.

Do not make the corn mixture too soupy. It should be more chunky.

Add the cooked beef marrow bones.

Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.

After 5 minutes, if it needs more liquid, add more beef bone broth.

Taste for salt.

Add salt if needed.

To assemble:

In a cup, add a few tablespoons of corn, mayo, lime juice, chile powder, and bone marrow.

Repeat depending on the depth of the cup.

Garnish with a beef bone marrow.

Enjoy!

Notes

You can use fresh or frozen corn.

For fresh corn, add 5 minutes more cooking time.