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An overhead close-up shot of the elote pasta salad, showing the texture of the creamy dressing, charred corn, and crumbled cotija cheese.
FL Recipes

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad (Easy & Creamy)

This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad captures all the vibrant flavors of elote in an easy, creamy pasta salad. Perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and weeknight dinners, this 30-minute dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Rotini or Fusilli Pasta
  • 4 ears Fresh Corn shucked
  • 1/2 cup Cotija Cheese crumbled
  • 1/2 cup Red Onion finely diced
  • 1 Jalapeño seeded and minced
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro freshly chopped
  • 1/2 cup Mexican Crema
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp Lime Juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tsp Chili Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot
  • 1 Grill or Skillet
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool. Set aside.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, grill the corn on a barbecue or grill pan over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender and charred. Let cool slightly, then cut the kernels off the cob.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the Mexican crema, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, corn kernels, cotija cheese, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over the top and toss to combine. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcalProtein: 9gFat: 22gFiber: 4g

Notes

Tip 1: For extra smoky flavor, add a pinch of chipotle powder to the dressing.
Tip 2: Rinsing the pasta in cold water is crucial to stop the cooking process and prevent it from becoming mushy.
Tip 3: You can substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt for the Mexican crema, but the flavor will be slightly tangier.
Keyword elote pasta salad,mexican street corn pasta salad,summer pasta salad

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