Name: Give Your Pasta Salad the Esquites Treatment
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 8 ounces cavatappi pasta; 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil; 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (thawed if frozen); 2 limes, plus lime wedges for serving; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 teaspoons Tajín or other chili-lime seasoning, divided; 3 green onions or scallions, chopped; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro, divided; 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese, divided, plus more to garnish

Give Your Pasta Salad the Esquites Treatment

This esquites-inspired pasta salad recipe takes all of the key elements of the iconic street food—charred sweet corn, salty cotija cheese, tangy lime, and a dusting of Tajín—and transforms them into a potluck-ready pasta salad. It’s a creamy, zesty way to enjoy fresh summer sweet corn and to feed a crowd.

30 min total 10 min prep 20 min cook 6 294 cal

Instructions

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1 Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water until it reaches room temperature.
2 Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet set over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the corn kernels and cook, stirring halfway through, until the corn has charred lightly, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
3 Zest one lime, then halve and juice it, along with the other lime. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lime zest, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon of the Tajín seasoning.
4 In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta, corn, green onions, 1/2 cup cilantro, and 1/3 cup cotija cheese. Pour the dressing over the pasta and mix to coat. Taste, adjusting with salt and pepper as needed. Top with the remaining cilantro, cotija, and Tajín and serve immediately with lime wedges or chill in the fridge for up to 6 hours. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!