A creamy pasta salad combining charred corn, lime dressing, cherry tomatoes, and cotija cheese for vibrant flavor.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz short pasta such as fusilli, penne, or rotini
→ Vegetables
02 - 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Dressing
07 - 1/3 cup sour cream
08 - 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons lime zest
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Cheese and Garnish
17 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
18 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
19 - Lime wedges for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cool running water to stop cooking. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until kernels develop charred spots. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, Greek yogurt, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
04 - Add cooked pasta, charred corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro to the dressing. Toss gently to coat all components evenly with the dressing.
05 - Fold in majority of crumbled cotija cheese, reserving a portion for final garnish.
06 - Transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle remaining cotija cheese and chili flakes over top. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
