Description
Savor summer’s zesty Mexican Pasta Salad, packed with colorful bell peppers, black beans, and cilantro. Cool pasta mingles with tangy lime dressing, delivering a fiesta of flavors you’ll crave at every backyard gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 10 ounces (283 grams) bowtie pasta
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) (425 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen (or fresh) corn, thawed
- 1 jalapeno, minced (optional, to taste)
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (preferably fat-free)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Prepare bowtie pasta according to package instructions, ensuring it reaches al dente texture. Immediately drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process and cool down the pasta completely.
- Create a vibrant dressing by whisking Greek yogurt and mayonnaise in a spacious mixing bowl. Incorporate lime juice, honey, cumin, salt, chili powder, and smoked paprika, blending until the mixture achieves a smooth, consistent texture.
- Transfer cooled pasta into the prepared dressing, gently folding to ensure each pasta piece is thoroughly coated with the zesty mixture.
- Introduce a medley of ingredients including black beans, jalapeño (if desired), corn kernels, halved cherry tomatoes, freshly chopped cilantro, and diced red onion. Carefully distribute these components throughout the pasta, creating a colorful and textured salad.
- For optimal flavor development, refrigerate the salad for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to harmonize. Alternatively, serve immediately for a vibrant, room-temperature dish that showcases the fresh ingredients and bold Mexican-inspired flavors.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeño quantity or removing seeds for milder flavor.
- Swap Greek yogurt with dairy-free alternatives like coconut yogurt for vegan-friendly option.
- Prep ingredients ahead and store separately to maintain crisp texture and prevent soggy salad.
- Add protein variety by incorporating grilled chicken, shredded rotisserie meat, or plant-based protein crumbles for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 3mg