Need a great recipe for Cinco de Mayo or your next BBQ party? How about this mouth-watering Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad?
Have you ever had Mexican street-style Elote (corn)? Man if you haven’t, add it to your EAT list. It will knock your socks off!!! Or maybe your flip flops since this is a summer thaaang.
I have only had it once, in Houston actually, and my taste buds still remember it. Essentially it’s grilled corn slathered in a creamy chili and lime-spiked sauce with cheese. How amazing does that sound!? I mean seriously, pair that with a cold beer and I’m pretty much in heaven.
With the weather warming up and summer BBQs on my mind, I wanted to recreate my Mexican street corn experience with a slight twist. I’m turning this badass Mexican classic into a family-friendly pasta salad.
Everyone… meet my Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad!!!!!
Grilled corn, pasta, avocado, pepper, amazing Mexican cojita cheese and a zingy dressing… are you hungry yet?
First up, the star – CORN. My favorite way to make this salad is with corn on the cob, grilled. However, if that’s not an option or you are short on time, you can also buy already roasted canned corn or roast regular canned corn on the stovetop for a few minutes. Easy peasy.
Next, the pasta. To make this a more substantial dish that can either be eaten as a side or meal, pasta does that trick. To make this dish heavier on the protein, simply add black beans.
Of course, we gotta have avocado. You can’t have a Mexican dish without avocados, am I right? I’d recommend adding it before you eat the salad or even bringing it along to your next BBQ separately and adding it there. However, you can still eat this salad as a left over with the avocados mixed in. Simply soak the chopped avocados in a bit of water and a good amount of lemon juice for a few minutes. This will prevent them from turning brown.
And last but not least, Mexican cheese and a zingy dressing. My first choice in cheese here are either Mexican Cojita or fresco. Fortunately most grocery stores carry these nowadays. If you can’t find it, substitute for feta. It’s all good 😋 And what can I say about the creamy tangy lightly spiced dressing? ITS FREAKEN AWESOME and made with Greek yogurt! A simple creamy dressing with lots of spices to give the salad boatloads of flavor.
Did I mention this salad is totally healthy and kid friendly too!?
What are you waiting for? Go make it 😃 I know you want some.
4 as a main salad or 6-8 as a small side
Ingredients
- 3 ears of corn or 2 (15-ounce) cans of corn
- 2 cups of pasta, uncooked (farfalle or small macaroni work best)
- 1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 avocado, peeled and diced
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/3 bunch cilantro, chopped
- Optional: 1 tablespoon jalapeno, finely diced (omit if serving to kids)
- 1/2 cup cojita cheese, queso fresco or feta, crumbled
- 1/2 cup full fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 teaspoon lime zest
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/8 garlic powder
- Optional: 1 teaspoon hot sauce (omit if serving to kids)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If using corn on the cob, shuck corn and discard silk and husk. Wrap the corn in heavy duty aluminum foil. Heat the grill to medium. Grill directly on hot coals, or on grill grates, turning occasionally until fully cooked, about 15 minutes. Let cool and cut corn kernels off the cobb carefully.
- If using canned corn that needs to be roasted, start by draining the corn. Heat a large pan (preferably cast iron) over medium high heat for 3 minute. Roast the corn in a single layer for about 5 minutes or until it starts charring. Remove corn and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, cool and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the pasta, corn, avocado, green onions, cilantro, jalapeno, pepper and cheese.
- For the dressing, combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until combined.
- Toss the salad with the dressing and enjoy.
Notes
To prevent avocados from browning soak the chopped avocados in a cup of water and a tablespoon of lemon juice for a few minutes. This salad is a great side dish or main dish. To increase protein in this recipe, add 1 cup of cooked black beans. If serving to kids, omit the jalapeno and hot sauce in the dressing.
Recipe slightly adapted from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.
Originally posted 2017-05-03 06:00:00.
Leave a Reply