Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad: Creamy & Zesty Recipe
This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed dish that combines the essence of classic Mexican street corn with tender pasta. It’s the perfect side dish for any gathering, bursting with smoky, sweet, and zesty flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- short pasta (fusilli, rotini, or farfalle)
- fresh corn kernels (or frozen corn, thawed, or canned corn, drained and rinsed)
- mayonnaise
- Mexican crema or sour cream
- fresh lime juice
- chili powder or Tajín
- Cotija cheese (crumbled)
- fresh cilantro (chopped)
- red onion (finely diced)
- jalapeño (finely minced, seeds removed for less spice)
- optional protein (grilled chicken, shrimp, cooked and cooled grilled beef, black beans, or chickpeas)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Get a large pot of salted water boiling. Add your chosen short pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the Corn: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels in a single layer and cook until charred and caramelized, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Whisk the Dressing: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, Mexican crema or sour cream, lime juice, chili powder (or Tajín), and half of the crumbled Cotija cheese. Add jalapeño and red onion, whisk until smooth.
- Combine Everything: Once pasta and corn are cool, add them to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until evenly coated. Fold in most of the chopped cilantro, reserving some for garnish.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Before serving, stir gently and garnish with remaining Cotija cheese and cilantro. Serve with extra lime wedges.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Charring the corn is essential for flavor. Ensure pasta is cooked al dente and rinse immediately after draining. Let the salad chill for at least an hour for the best flavor.