Street Corn Pasta (Print-Friendly Version)
Tender noodles with melty cheese, smoky corn off the grill, tossed with a creamy buttery sauce, herbs, and a hint of spice—fresh and packed with flavor.
# Ingredients List:
→ Dressing
01 -
90 grams cotija or feta, crumbled
02 -
Salt and black pepper, as much as you like
03 -
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
04 -
1–2 garlic cloves, grated
05 -
2 tablespoons good olive oil
06 -
80 milliliters sour cream
07 -
4 ounces softened cream cheese
→ Salad
08 -
1 ripe avocado, diced
09 -
60 grams spicy cheddar, diced into little cubes
10 -
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
11 -
1/2 cup fresh basil, torn up
12 -
2 cups cooked or grilled corn kernels (about 3–4 cobs)
13 -
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
14 -
450 grams small pasta shapes, like penne, rotini, or fusilli
→ Chili Butter
15 -
0.5–2 teaspoons cayenne, use what you can handle
16 -
2 tablespoons chili powder
17 -
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
18 -
4 tablespoons salted butter
→ Lime Mayo Sauce
19 -
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
20 -
60 milliliters plain yogurt or mayonnaise
# Detailed Cooking Steps:
01 -
Let the salad chill for a bit before eating so it tastes even better. When you're ready, spoon on the chili butter and pour the lime mayo sauce over the top. Enjoy it warm or after it sits out a little.
02 -
Mix up your plain yogurt (or mayo) with that lime juice and a pinch of salt in a little bowl. Whisk it all together till smooth.
03 -
In a small pan, let the butter melt on medium. Toss in smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne (add more if you like it spicy), and salt. Stir it around for about a minute, just until the spices smell yummy, then pull it off the heat.
04 -
Cook your pasta in salted water until just tender, drain fast, and while it's still hot dump it into a bowl with the cheese dressing. Next, add lettuce, corn, basil, cilantro, cheddar cubes, and avocado. Give it a gentle toss so everything's mixed.
05 -
Grab a big bowl. Throw in the softened cream cheese, sour cream, olive oil, grated garlic, chives, salt, pepper, and crumbled feta or cotija. Mix or mash everything together until it's nice and creamy.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
Letting the pasta salad sit for a bit helps the flavor soak in.
02 -
Fresh grilled corn adds the best sweet, smoky bite.