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Mexican-inspired elote pasta salad in a large bowl garnished with tajin, fresh cilantro and chopped green onion.
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Elote Pasta Salad (Mexican Street Corn Inspired Salad)

If you're looking for a fun and flavorful twist on a classic summer side, this easy Elote Pasta Salad is it. This isn’t a traditional recipe by any means. It is inspired by the flavor profile of Mexican street corn (elotes and esquites), bringing all those zesty, creamy, smoky flavors into a pasta salad that's perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or any sunny day gathering.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Luay Ghafari
Cost: $10

Ingredients

  • ½ lb Pasta - Use fusilli, penne, or other small shape
  • 3 Ears of corn
  • ¼ cup Mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup Sour cream
  • 3 tbsp Lime juice - From 2 limes
  • 1 tsp Lime zest - From 1 lime
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika - You can use sweet or hot paprika or chili powder
  • 1 tsp Tajin seasoning
  • ½ tsp Kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp Black pepper
  • 5 Green onions (chopped)
  • ¼ cup Fresh cilantro (chopped)
  • 1 cup Cotija cheese (crumbled)
  • Garnish with extra green onion, cilantro and tajin

Instructions

  • Boil Pasta. Boil ½ lb Pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
  • Grill corn. Grill 3 Ears of corn on an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan until nicely charred. Let it cool slightly, then carefully slice the kernels off the cob with a sharp knife.
  • Make the Dressing. In your serving bowl, whisk together ¼ cup Mayonnaise, ¼ cup Sour cream, 3 tbsp Lime juice, 1 tsp Lime zest, 1 tsp Smoked paprika, 1 tsp Tajin seasoning, ½ tsp Kosher salt, and ¼ tsp Black pepper.
  • Assemble. To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooled pasta, grilled corn kernels, 5 Green onions (chopped), ¼ cup Fresh cilantro (chopped), and 1 cup Cotija cheese (crumbled).
  • Toss and Taste. Toss everything together until evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with extra green onion, cilantro and tajin before serving.

Notes

Refer to the blog post above for step-by-step recipe photos. 
Ingredient Notes:
  • Pasta: Any short shape like fusilli, penne, macaroni or shells works great.
  • Fresh Sweet Corn: I like to use fresh corn on the cob and grill it for that smoky charred flavor. 
  • Cheese: Cotija cheese is traditional and works well. It’s salty and crumbled nicely. Feta is a good substitute. 
  • Tajin: This classic Mexican seasoning with chili and lime is readily available now at most grocery stores. It’s really key in this recipe, as it adds acidity, sweetness and a little spiciness.
  • Paprika: Smoked or sweet, your choice. You can also use cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or chili powder. Use as much or as little as you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 482mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1mg