Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
This Mexican street corn pasta salad will be a hit at your next potluck. Loaded with fire roasted corn, fresh cilantro, creamy cotija cheese then tossed with a chili-lime dressing!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ditalini pasta , or mini bow tie
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 12 ounces fire roasted corn
- 3 cloves garlic, minced , about 2 teaspoons
- ½ bunch cilantro , finely chopped
- ⅓ cup cotija cheese , crumbled
- salt and pepper , to taste
Chipotle Lime Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 3 limes , juiced (about 1/4 cup)
- 1-2 chipotle peppers , packed in adobo sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional toppings for garnish: Extra cotija and cilantro, jalapeno slices, sliced green onions, chopped avocado
Instructions
- Cook pasta: In a large pot, boil water and cook 16 ounces ditalini pasta according to package directions. Be sure to salt the water!
- Drain and cool pasta: Drain pasta and rinse with cold water to cool down the pasta.
- Cook corn: Over medium heat, heat a large skillet and add 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 12 ounces corn. Sauté for 2 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons garlic then cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Make dressing: In a blender, blend 1/2 cup mayonnaise, add 1/3 cup sour cream, 1-2 chipotle peppers, 3-4 Tablespoons lime juice, zest of 1 lime, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend well.
- Assemble Salad: Add pasta (reserve about a cup), corn, dressing, 1/2 bunch chopped cilantro and 1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese. Gently toss together and add more pasta if needed.
- Serve: Add extra cilantro or cotija on top if desired.
Notes
Saucy: If you prefer it saucy you can double the dressing so you can add more in. For less saucy, add reserved pasta.
Spice it up: If you like a little extra heat add in 2-3 peppers. You can also add in some minced jalepeno and a dash of cumin.
Make ahead: If you are making ahead, cover tightly and store in refrigerator but do not add dressing until right before serving.
Make it a meal! Mix in 1 cup black beans and 1 cup chopped grilled chicken, chopped brisket or bacon. For a fun crunch, add some Fritos corn chips.
Nutrition
Calories: 575kcal, Carbohydrates: 73g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 808mg, Potassium: 359mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 395IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
