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Creamy Elote Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cotija

creamy elote street corn pasta salad - featured image
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A vibrant and creamy pasta salad inspired by Mexican street corn, featuring smoky charred corn, tangy lime, and salty cotija cheese. Perfect for summer cookouts and easy to prepare in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 3 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4–5 ears) or frozen corn, thawed
  • 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • Extra cilantro and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fresh corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to char and blister, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
  4. Add the cooled pasta, charred corn, 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro into the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything evenly. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  5. Just before serving, sprinkle 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese over the top, along with extra chopped cilantro and lime wedges on the side.

Notes

If fresh corn is unavailable, frozen corn works well. For a dairy-free version, substitute mayo and sour cream with vegan alternatives and use vegan cheese or nutritional yeast instead of cotija. To add more heat, increase chili powder or add fresh jalapeño. Rinse pasta under cold water to prevent sticking and chill salad for 30 minutes to meld flavors. Add cotija cheese just before serving to maintain texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, elote, street corn, cotija cheese, summer recipe, creamy pasta salad, Mexican street food, easy pasta salad

Find it online: https://katedishes.com/creamy-elote-street-corn-pasta-salad-with-cotija-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-summer/