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Flavorful Grilled Street Corn and Black Bean Pasta Salad

grilled street corn and black bean pasta salad - featured image
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A smoky, creamy, and tangy pasta salad featuring grilled street corn, black beans, and a zesty lime dressing, perfect for easy summer meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225g) rotini or penne pasta, cooked al dente
  • 3 ears fresh corn, husked (or about 2 cups frozen corn, thawed)
  • 1 can (15 oz/425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup cotija cheese or feta, crumbled
  • Extra lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush ears of corn lightly with oil. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until charred in spots and tender, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then slice kernels off the cob.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, and minced garlic. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Adjust lime or chili powder as desired.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, grilled corn kernels, black beans, diced avocado, red bell pepper, and chopped cilantro. Gently toss to mix without mashing avocado.
  5. Pour dressing over salad and toss until well coated.
  6. Sprinkle crumbled cotija or feta cheese on top. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges or refrigerate up to 2 hours to let flavors meld.

Notes

Use vegan mayo and omit cheese for a vegan version. Frozen corn can be used if fresh is unavailable; sauté or grill for smoky flavor. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini noodles. Avoid overdressing to prevent sogginess. Add avocado last and gently fold to keep it fresh. Leftovers keep up to 2 days refrigerated; toss with lime juice before serving to refresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, grilled corn, black beans, summer recipe, easy pasta salad, lime dressing, smoky corn, avocado, potluck dish

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/flavorful-grilled-street-corn-and-black-bean-pasta-salad-recipe-for-easy-summer-meals/