Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad (Print)

Vibrant pasta salad with sweet corn, zesty lime, and smoky creamy dressing inspired by Mexican street corn flavors.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - If using fresh corn, grill or char kernels in a skillet over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, corn, red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño, and cilantro.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, hot sauce (if using), salt, and black pepper until smooth.
05 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss until evenly coated.
06 - Gently fold in most of the cotija or feta cheese, reserving a portion for garnish.
07 - Transfer to serving platter or bowl. Garnish with remaining cheese and extra cilantro if desired. Chill at least 20 minutes before serving for best flavor.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The smoky, tangy, creamy combo hits every craving at once
  • It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after sitting for a bit
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will continue cooking and get mushy
  • The salad needs at least 20 minutes in the fridge for the flavors to really marry
03 -
  • If the dressing feels too thick, whisk in a teaspoon of water at a time
  • Extra lime juice right before serving wakes everything back up

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