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Fresh Street Corn Pasta Salad with Zesty Lime

fresh street corn pasta salad - featured image
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A quick and easy summer pasta salad featuring smoky grilled corn, zesty lime dressing, and fresh vegetables. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or light dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini or penne pasta
  • 3 ears fresh corn, husked (or about 2 cups frozen and thawed)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced finely
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • A handful of cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
  • Juice of 2 large limes (about 3 tablespoons)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise (120ml), preferably full-fat
  • ¼ cup sour cream (60ml)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional add-ins: crumbled Cotija or feta cheese, sliced avocado, jalapeño

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, about 9–11 minutes. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool slightly.
  2. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush husked corn with olive oil and grill, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides, about 8–10 minutes. Alternatively, broil corn on a baking sheet, turning every 2 minutes until blackened. Let cool, then slice kernels off the cob.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
  4. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, grilled corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, and cilantro. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Cover and refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld.
  6. Before serving, toss salad again and optionally sprinkle with crumbled Cotija cheese or sliced avocado.

Notes

Use fresh limes for best flavor. Grilling or broiling corn adds smoky depth; if short on time, sauté frozen corn with smoked paprika as a substitute. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance flavors. For vegan version, substitute mayonnaise and sour cream with vegan mayo and coconut yogurt. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make this salad gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, street corn, lime dressing, summer salad, grilled corn, easy pasta salad, zesty lime, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/fresh-street-corn-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-zesty-lime-twist-for-summer/