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Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 79 reviews

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is a vibrant and creamy dish that combines tender pasta, sweet corn, and a zesty, smoky dressing inspired by traditional Mexican street corn flavors. It’s a perfect, crowd-pleasing side dish for BBQs, picnics, or any casual gathering, offering a refreshing twist with fresh cilantro and crumbly cotija cheese.

Ingredients

Pasta and Vegetables

  • 3 cups cooked rotini or penne pasta
  • 2 cups corn (grilled, frozen, or canned)

Dressing

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Garnishes

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese

Instructions

  1. Combine pasta and corn: In a large bowl, add the cooked and cooled pasta. Add the corn, whether grilled for extra flavor, frozen, or canned, and gently mix to combine.
  2. Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well blended.
  3. Toss pasta with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta and corn mixture. Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
  4. Add garnishes: Fold in the chopped fresh cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese, mixing gently to distribute.
  5. Chill before serving: Place the pasta salad in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold as a delicious side dish at your next BBQ or gathering.

Notes

  • Grilling the corn before adding it enhances the smoky, charred flavor, but frozen or canned corn works well too.
  • Feel free to adjust the chili powder and smoked paprika to your preferred spice level.
  • This pasta salad can be made a few hours in advance and stored covered in the fridge.
  • For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
  • Garnish with extra cotija cheese just before serving for added texture and flavor.

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