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Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
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Easy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad combines smoky grilled corn, creamy dressing, tangy cotija cheese, and tender pasta for a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for summer barbecues, potlucks, or quick weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 2 cups rotini or elbow macaroni pasta

Corn

  • 3 ears fresh corn, grilled or roasted (or 2 cups frozen corn, sautéed or roasted)

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Additional Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 green onions, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Boil your chosen pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain it and rinse briefly under cold water to cool and prevent sticking.
  2. Prepare the Corn: Grill or roast fresh corn cobs until slightly charred and smoky, then cut the kernels off the cob. If using frozen corn, sauté or roast until heated through and slightly browned.
  3. Mix the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh lime juice, chili powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until smooth and creamy.
  4. Combine All Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, toss the pasta, corn kernels, chopped green onions, cilantro, and crumbled cotija cheese with the dressing until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Stir well before serving and top with extra cotija cheese or chili powder if desired.

Notes

  • Use fresh corn whenever possible for the best flavor.
  • Don’t skip the lime juice; it balances the creaminess and brightens the salad.
  • Chilling the salad helps the flavors meld and enhances taste.
  • Choose small or curly pasta shapes for optimal dressing cling and texture.
  • Adjust chili powder to your preferred spice level.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mexican street corn, pasta salad, summer salad, grilled corn salad, cotija cheese salad, easy pasta salad, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/mexican-street-corn-pasta-salad/