Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ For the pasta salad
01 -
16 oz. bow tie pasta, cooked and cooled (or your favorite pasta shape)
02 -
1½ cups corn kernels (about 2 ears of fresh corn)
03 -
1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
04 -
½ of a small red onion, chopped or thinly sliced
05 -
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
06 -
1-2 ripe avocados, diced
07 -
Cotija cheese, crumbled (optional, for topping)
→ For the creamy cilantro lime dressing
08 -
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
09 -
¼ cup fresh lime juice
10 -
¼ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (leaves & stems are fine)
11 -
2 garlic cloves
12 -
½ teaspoon salt
13 -
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
# Instructions:
01 -
Add all the dressing ingredients (Greek yogurt, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, salt, and cayenne) to a food processor and blend until completely smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. The bright, tangy flavor will develop as it chills.
02 -
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta, corn kernels, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, and the 2 tablespoons of finely chopped cilantro. Pour your desired amount of the cilantro lime dressing over the ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
03 -
Just before serving, top each portion with freshly diced avocado and a sprinkle of crumbled Cotija cheese if using. The avocado is best added right before eating to prevent browning.
# Notes:
01 -
If you find the dressing too tart, you can start with just 2-3 tablespoons of lime juice and ¼ teaspoon salt, then adjust to taste. Alternatively, add a little honey or maple syrup to balance the acidity.
02 -
Feel free to adjust the amounts of any salad ingredients based on your preference. The measurements given are just suggestions that work well together.
03 -
For leftovers, consider making an extra half batch of dressing to refresh the salad before serving, as the pasta tends to absorb the dressing while it sits in the refrigerator.
04 -
Cook fresh corn using your preferred method - boiling for 1½-2 minutes works perfectly to maintain its crisp sweetness.