Healthy & Unique Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad: a quick, flavorful mix of pasta, fire-roasted corn, and a tangy dressing, perfect for a fresh side dish.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe
Transform your next meal with the Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad, a vibrant combination of al dente pasta and fire-roasted corn, infused with a zesty, creamy dressing and sprinkled with Cotija cheese. This 20-minute wonder is the epitome of convenience, using pantry staples to deliver a side dish that’s bursting with the fresh, smoky flavors of Mexican street corn.
Ingredients
Salad:
- 16 oz. rotini pasta
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 (10 oz.) bags of frozen fire-roasted corn (cooked according to package directions) or 3 (15 oz.) cans of corn, drained
- 1 cup crumbled Cotija or queso fresco cheese
- ⅓ cup freshly chopped cilantro + more for garnish
Dressing:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- a couple pinches cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Toss with 2 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and pepper and set aside to cool to room temperature. Or pop in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
- In a medium bowl combine sour cream, mayo, 2 tablespoons olive oil, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, lime zest and juice, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.
- Add cooled pasta, corn, Cotija, and cilantro to a large bowl.
- Pour most of the dressing over the pasta.
- Toss until everything is well coated.
- Transfer to a serving platter, drizzle with the remaining dressing, and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
Serving Suggestions
- Grilled Lime Chicken
- Beef Tacos
- Fish Tacos
- Carnitas
- Black Bean Soup
- Chicken Quesadillas
- Carne Asada
- Enchiladas
Tips and Tricks
- Cook pasta until just al dente to avoid mushiness, typically 1 minute less than the package’s lowest cooking time recommendation.
- If sweet corn is in season, you can use fresh corn on the cob without cooking it first, or utilize leftover grilled corn for added flavor.
- For a creamy and well-coated salad, blend Cotija cheese with the dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth before mixing with the pasta.
