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Easy Zesty Mexican Pasta Salad

Easy Zesty Mexican Pasta Salad

A colorful cold rotini pasta salad packed with black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, cilantro, and a zesty lime-chili vinaigrette. This recipe makes about 8 side-dish servings and is especially good after a short chill.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad
  • 12 ounces (340 g) Rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 1 15-ounce can Black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 11–15-ounce can, or 1 1/2 cups Corn, drained, or cooked corn
  • 1 cup Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 pepper Red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup Red onion, finely diced
  • 1/4–1/2 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, optional Jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 avocado, optional Avocado, diced
Lime-Chili Dressing
  • 1/2 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon Honey or agave
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to the package directions until al dente, usually 9–12 minutes.
  2. Drain the pasta and rinse it briefly under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain thoroughly so excess water does not dilute the dressing.
  3. Whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey or agave, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Add the black beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and optional jalapeño.
  5. Pour in most of the dressing and toss gently until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated. Reserve a little dressing for serving.
  6. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can develop. Toss again before serving and add the remaining dressing if the pasta has absorbed too much.
  7. Fold in the diced avocado immediately before serving. Taste and adjust only if needed, then garnish with additional cilantro.