Description
A fresh, vibrant, and quick summer pasta salad featuring smoky grilled corn, tangy lime dressing, and colorful veggies, ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces fusilli or rotini pasta
- 3 medium ears fresh corn on the cob
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional add-ins: avocado chunks, crumbled feta, black beans, toasted pepitas, grilled chicken
Instructions
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Husk corn and place directly on grill. Turn every 2 minutes until all sides are charred, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then slice kernels off the cob.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Dice red bell pepper, halve cherry tomatoes, finely chop red onion, and roughly chop cilantro. Soak onion in cold water for 10 minutes if desired to reduce sharpness, then drain.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, honey, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, grilled corn kernels, chopped veggies, and cilantro. Pour dressing over and toss gently to coat. Fold in optional add-ins like avocado or feta last.
- Refrigerate salad for at least 15 minutes before serving to let flavors meld, or serve immediately chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
[‘Char the corn well for smoky flavor and texture.’, ‘Rinse pasta after cooking to stop cooking and cool it for salad.’, ‘Adjust dressing seasoning gradually to balance flavors.’, ‘Use fresh lime juice for best brightness.’, ‘Salad tastes better after chilling for a few hours or overnight.’, ‘Add protein like grilled chicken or shrimp for a heartier meal.’, ‘Avoid freezing as fresh veggies and dressing do not freeze well.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 8
Keywords: summer pasta salad, grilled corn salad, quick pasta salad, easy summer recipe, healthy pasta salad, grilled corn, lime dressing, vegetarian pasta salad