Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
A bright, creamy pasta salad inspired by Mexican street corn (elote) with charred corn, lime-cotija dressing, and chili powder for smoky heat.
Ingredients
Salad
- 12 oz short pasta penne rotini, or shells
- 3 cups fresh corn kernels about 4 ears or thawed frozen corn
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved (optional)
- ½ cup red bell pepper diced
- ⅓ cup red onion or green onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup sour cream or Mexican crema
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp lime zest
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Toppings
- ¾ cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
- 1 tbsp melted butter optional, for corn
- Extra lime wedges and smoked paprika or extra chili powder
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over high heat. Toss corn with a little oil or melted butter and spread in a single layer. Let char without stirring for 3–5 minutes, then stir and char another 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Add charred corn, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, and cilantro to the pasta. Pour dressing over everything and toss gently to combine. Stir in half of the cotija cheese.
- Chill at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld. Before serving, top with remaining cotija, a sprinkle of smoked paprika or chili powder, and extra lime wedges.
Notes
- For best char and flavor, grill the corn on an outdoor grill or grill pan.
- Swap half the mayo for Greek yogurt to reduce calories while keeping creaminess.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- Add fresh cilantro and cheese before serving.
- Make it a main by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or black beans.
Nutrition
Calories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 9gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 420mgSugar: 5g
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