Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant pasta salad with grilled corn, zesty lime crema, smoky spices, and crumbled cotija cheese for a Mexican-inspired twist.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - If using fresh corn, heat skillet over medium-high heat and char kernels until lightly browned, approximately 5 minutes. Allow to cool completely before proceeding.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, charred corn, diced red onion, 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. Continue whisking until completely smooth and emulsified.
05 - Pour prepared dressing over pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with creamy dressing.
06 - Gently fold in all but 2 tablespoons of crumbled cotija or feta cheese, taking care not to break down pasta pieces.
07 - Transfer salad to serving bowl or platter. Sprinkle reserved cheese over top along with additional fresh cilantro if desired.
08 - Refrigerate for minimum 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold for optimal taste and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy smoky dressing hugs every curve of pasta perfectly
  • It gets even better after chilling in the fridge for a day
  • People will beg you for the recipe at every potluck
02 -
  • The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits so add a splash of lime juice before serving leftovers
  • Dont skip rinsing the cooked pasta or youll end up with gummy salad
  • This dish needs that chill time—serve it right away and the flavors wont have melded yet
03 -
  • Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a lighter version that still tastes rich
  • Char extra corn when you have the grill going and freeze it for future batches

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