Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad

Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish, perfect for summer gatherings. It combines bow tie pasta with fresh vegetables like sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, and red onion, all tossed in a creamy cilantro lime dressing. The addition of avocado provides a creamy texture, making this salad a flavorful and satisfying option for potlucks and parties.

Ingredients:

For the Pasta Salad:

• 16 oz. bow tie pasta (farfalle), cooked and cooled

• 1½ cups corn kernels (about 2 ears of corn)

• 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ small red onion, chopped or thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped

• 1–2 avocados, diced

• Cotija cheese, crumbled (optional)
  
  

For the Dressing:

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice

• ¼ cup cilantro, roughly chopped (including leaves and stems)

• 2 garlic cloves

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dressing:
   Combine all dressing ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

2. Cook the Pasta:
   Follow the package instructions to cook the pasta. Once done, drain and let it cool completely before transferring to a large mixing bowl.

3. Prepare the Vegetables:
   While the pasta is cooling, cook the corn using your preferred method and cut the kernels off the cobs. Halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the red onion, and finely chop the cilantro.

4. Assemble the Salad:
   Add the corn, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro to the bowl with the cooled pasta. Pour the desired amount of dressing over the top and toss until all ingredients are well coated.

5. Serve:
   Top each serving with diced avocado and, if desired, a sprinkle of cotija cheese. Serve immediately.
   
   

Serving Size:
Yields approximately 6 servings.

Nutritional Information:
While the exact nutritional values can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes, this salad is a balanced dish providing carbohydrates from the pasta, healthy fats from the avocado, and protein from the Greek yogurt-based dressing. It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals from the fresh vegetables.