Description
A creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy pasta salad that captures the flavor of Mexican street corn (Elote).
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rotini or small shell pasta
- 4 ears fresh corn, kernels removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
- 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese, plus more for topping
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon chili powder, plus more for dusting
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to cool it down. Set aside.
- Toss the corn kernels with olive oil in a bowl. Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels are lightly charred, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or crema, Cotija cheese, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Add the cooled pasta, charred corn, and red onion to the dressing. Toss everything gently until the pasta and corn are evenly coated.
- Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more lime juice or chili powder for your preference.
- Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, sprinkle the top with extra crumbled Cotija cheese and a light dusting of chili powder.
Notes
- You can prepare the dressing and char the corn a day ahead of time for faster assembly.
- If you cannot find Cotija cheese, use feta cheese as a substitute, though the flavor will be slightly different.
- For a smoky flavor, use smoked paprika instead of some of the chili powder.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mexican Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 22
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 12
- Cholesterol: 35