Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad

This Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad is a creamy and flavorful dish that’s perfect for summer meals, potlucks, or weeknight dinners. Made with a cashew-based Southwest dressing, black beans, corn, fresh veggies, and pasta, this salad is naturally vegan, dairy-free, and oil-free. It's quick to prepare and can be served hot, room temperature, or cold, making it a versatile and delicious choice for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 16 ounces whole wheat pasta (or any vegan pasta)
  
  

• 16 ounces cherry/grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
  
  

• 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  
  

• 1 small red onion, diced
  
  

• 1 cup finely chopped cilantro
  
  

• 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  
  

• 2 cups fire-roasted corn (frozen works well)
  
  

• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  
  

• For the Creamy Vegan Southwest Dressing:
  
  

  • 1 cup water
    
    

  • 1 cup raw cashews (unsalted)
    
    

  • 1 lime, juiced
    
    

  • 3 cloves garlic
    
    

  • 2–3 chipotle peppers, packed in adobo sauce
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    
    

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    
    

Directions

1. Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water. Set aside.
   
   

2. Make the creamy vegan Southwest dressing: In a high-speed blender, combine water, cashews, lime juice, garlic, chipotle peppers, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
   
   

3. Assemble the pasta salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the halved tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, black beans, corn, and the cooked pasta.
   
   

4. Toss the pasta salad with the creamy dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
   
   

5. Serve: Enjoy the pasta salad immediately or refrigerate for a few hours to let the flavors meld. It can be served cold, at room temperature, or even warm.
   
   

Nutritional Value (per serving)

• Calories: 330 kcal
  
  

• Carbohydrates: 47g
  
  

• Protein: 12g
  
  

• Fat: 12g
  
  

• Saturated Fat: 2g
  
  

• Cholesterol: 0mg
  
  

• Sodium: 550mg
  
  

• Potassium: 630mg
  
  

• Fiber: 9g
  
  

• Sugar: 7g
  
  

• Vitamin A: 35% of the Daily Value
  
  

• Vitamin C: 50% of the Daily Value
  
  

• Calcium: 70mg
  
  

• Iron: 2.5mg