Creamy Elote Pasta Salad (Printable)
Creamy Mexican corn pasta with cotija cheese, lime, and smoky spices in a tangy dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 8 ounces short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)
→ Elote Dressing
02 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1/4 cup sour cream
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
05 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Vegetables and Add-ins
10 - 2 cups cooked corn kernels (fresh, grilled, or canned; about 3 ears)
11 - 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (feta may be substituted)
12 - 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
13 - 1/4 cup diced red onion
14 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely diced (optional)
→ Garnish
15 - Additional crumbled cotija cheese
16 - Extra chopped fresh cilantro
17 - Lime wedges
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the short pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a strainer and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to halt cooking. Set aside and allow the pasta to cool completely.
02 - While the pasta cools, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk vigorously until the dressing is smooth and all spices are evenly incorporated.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, cooked corn kernels, crumbled cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, diced red onion, and finely diced jalapeño to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything together using a large spoon or spatula until all ingredients are uniformly coated with the dressing.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust salt, pepper, or chili powder as needed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
05 - Transfer the salad to a serving dish. Top with additional crumbled cotija cheese, extra chopped cilantro, and lime wedges alongside. Serve chilled as a side dish or vegetarian main.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The smoky, tangy, creamy dressing transforms ordinary pasta into something extraordinary
- It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after the flavors meld together
02 -
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water stops the cooking and prevents it from getting mushy in the salad
- The dressing will seem thick at first but thins out as it coats the pasta and corn
03 -
- Grill fresh corn in advance and cut kernels off the cob for maximum smoky flavor
- Wait to add avocado until just before serving or it will brown