Description
Experience the vibrant flavors of summer with this Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto & Goat Cheese. This refreshing dish combines sweet, char-grilled corn with colorful vegetables and creamy goat cheese, making it an ideal choice for picnics, barbecues, or a light dinner. The zesty cilantro pesto is the star of the show, infusing each bite with a delightful burst of flavor. Quick to prepare and packed with wholesome ingredients, this pasta salad is not only delicious but also versatile—perfect as a main dish or a side. Whether you’re serving it chilled or at room temperature, this salad is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large ears of corn, shucked and cleaned
- 8 ounces bow tie pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ avocado, diced
- ⅓ cup goat cheese crumbles
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 jalapeño, seeded
- 1 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 small lime, juiced
- ⅓ cup roasted or raw cashews
- 1–2 teaspoons avocado or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1–2 tablespoons water, if necessary to thin the pesto
- Extra cilantro for garnish
- ½ avocado for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to high heat. Drizzle the cleaned corn with olive or avocado oil. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Place the corn directly on the grill and turn occasionally until charred and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Allow it to cool before cutting the kernels from the cob.
- While your corn is grilling, boil water in a pot. Add your bowtie pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Once done, drain and rinse under cool water. Transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- In a food processor, combine cilantro leaves, cashews, lime juice, garlic clove, jalapeño, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth. If needed, add water one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Pour the cilantro pesto over the cooked pasta in your large bowl. Mix well to ensure all pasta is coated evenly.
- Gently fold in grilled corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, avocado chunks, goat cheese crumbles, and diced red onion into the salad.
- You can either chill in the fridge for later serving or enjoy immediately! When ready to serve, garnish with extra cilantro sprigs, additional avocado slices if desired, and more goat cheese crumbles on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Grilling, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 10mg