Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad (Printable)
Creamy pasta salad with grilled corn, zesty lime, and smoky spices.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 cups corn kernels, fresh, grilled or frozen and thawed
03 - 1/2 red onion, finely diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
06 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Cheese
07 - 3/4 cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
→ Dressing
08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 1/4 cup sour cream
10 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
11 - 1 tsp lime zest
12 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1 tsp hot sauce, optional
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool completely.
02 - If using fresh corn, heat skillet over medium-high heat and add corn kernels. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and charred, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, charred corn, diced red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño, and chopped cilantro. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and hot sauce if using. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, whisking until completely smooth and combined.
05 - Pour prepared dressing over salad mixture. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
06 - Gently fold in crumbled cotija or feta cheese, reserving approximately 2 tablespoons for garnish.
07 - Transfer salad to serving bowl or platter. Sprinkle reserved cheese over top along with additional fresh cilantro if desired.
08 - Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled for optimal taste and texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy lime dressing clings to every spiral of pasta like magic
- It actually gets better after sitting in the fridge, making it perfect for prep-ahead meals
02 -
- Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
- The salad needs at least 20 minutes in the fridge for the flavors to really develop
03 -
- Let the salad come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving if it has been refrigerated longer than an hour
- Taste again before serving and add a squeeze of fresh lime if needed to wake up the flavors