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Fresh Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cotija Cheese

fresh street corn pasta salad - featured image
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A quick and easy pasta salad combining smoky charred corn, creamy cotija cheese, and a tangy lime dressing, perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 4 ears fresh corn, husked and kernels cut off
  • ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled (about 60 g)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise (120 ml)
  • ¼ cup sour cream (60 ml)
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions, about 8–10 minutes, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
  2. Husk 4 ears of fresh corn and remove silk. Heat grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Brush corn with 1 tablespoon olive oil and grill, turning occasionally, until kernels are charred in spots, about 8–10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  3. Cut kernels off the cob using a sharp knife and collect into a bowl.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, juice of 2 limes, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, salt, and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as desired.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, charred corn kernels, ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese, and ¼ cup chopped cilantro if using.
  6. Pour dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss until evenly coated, being careful not to mash the corn or pasta.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Before serving, stir gently and garnish with extra cotija cheese or cilantro if desired.

Notes

Grill corn carefully to get char marks without burning. Salt pasta water generously for flavor. Cool pasta under cold water to prevent mushiness. Adjust dressing thickness with water or lime juice if needed. For dairy-free, omit cotija and sour cream and use vegan mayo and toasted pepitas.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, street corn, cotija cheese, summer BBQ, grilled corn, easy recipe, potluck, creamy dressing

Find it online: https://tastypierecipes.com/fresh-street-corn-pasta-salad-with-cotija-cheese-easy-recipe-for-summer-bbqs/