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Creamy Elote Street Corn Pasta Salad

creamy elote street corn pasta salad - featured image
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A flavorful and creamy pasta salad inspired by Mexican street corn, featuring grilled corn, cotija cheese, and a tangy lime dressing. Perfect for summer gatherings and quick meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 4 ears fresh corn, husked and grilled (or 3 cups frozen corn, thawed and lightly sautéed)
  • 1 cup crumbled cotija cheese (or feta as a substitute)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • Juice of 2 fresh limes (about 3 tablespoons)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions (about 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush husked ears of corn lightly with olive oil. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until charred and tender, about 10-12 minutes. If using frozen corn, skip grilling and lightly sauté in olive oil for 5 minutes.
  3. Once corn is cool enough to handle, slice kernels off the cob into a bowl, yielding about 3 cups.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, minced garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper until creamy and well combined.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, toss cooled pasta with grilled corn kernels. Add dressing and stir gently to coat evenly.
  6. Fold in crumbled cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lime juice if needed.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Do not overcook pasta to avoid mushiness. Grilling corn adds smoky flavor; alternatively, broil corn in oven for 10-15 minutes. Whisk lime juice and chili powder before adding mayo and sour cream to avoid clumps. Chill salad at least 30 minutes for best flavor. Adjust chili powder gradually to control heat. Toss gently to preserve pasta texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, elote, street corn, creamy pasta salad, summer recipe, cotija cheese, lime dressing, grilled corn, easy pasta salad

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/creamy-elote-street-corn-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-and-best-for-summer/