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Creamy Elote Street Corn Pasta Salad

creamy elote street corn pasta salad - featured image
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A creamy, tangy, and spicy pasta salad inspired by Mexican street corn, perfect for summer parties and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini or elbow macaroni pasta
  • 3 ears fresh corn, husked and kernels removed (or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed)
  • 1 cup canned corn, drained
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (or feta as substitute)
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 teaspoons Tajin seasoning
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of rotini and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add fresh corn kernels from 3 ears of corn (or thawed frozen corn). Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until charred spots appear and corn smells smoky. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, juice of 2 limes, 2 teaspoons Tajin seasoning, and 1 finely minced garlic clove. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
  4. Add roasted corn and 1 cup drained canned corn to the pasta. Pour dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
  5. Fold in 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and optional jalapeño if using. Toss gently.
  6. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Roast corn carefully to get a nice char without burning. Rinse pasta with cold water to keep it from sticking and to keep salad cool. Adjust seasoning carefully, especially Tajin and salt. Chill salad at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. For dairy-free, substitute mayo and sour cream with vegan alternatives and skip or replace cheese. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, elote, street corn, summer recipe, creamy pasta salad, Tajin, Mexican street food, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/creamy-elote-street-corn-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-perfect-for-summer-parties/