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Southwestern Pasta Salad

This colorful Southwest pasta salad is full of flavor. It's always really popular at potlucks — you might want to make a double batch!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 2095 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Stockpot For cooking pasta
  • 1 Colander For draining pasta and rinsing beans
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining salad ingredients and dressing
  • 1 Whisk For emulsifying the dressing
  • 1 Chef's Knife and Cutting Board For preparing fresh vegetables and herbs

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 8 ounces rotini pasta
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 ½ cups whole kernel corn
  • 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup diced green bell pepper
  • ½ cup diced red bell pepper
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 cup chopped roma plum tomatoes

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
  • Combine oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, and garlic in a large bowl. Stir in pasta; set aside to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in corn, beans, green pepper, red pepper and 1/2 of the cilantro leaves. Spoon onto a platter and garnish with tomatoes and remaining cilantro. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

1. Pasta Perfection: Cook rotini al dente; overcooked pasta will become mushy in a salad. Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water immediately after draining to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking, which is crucial for pasta salads.2. Flavor Integration: Allow the pasta to cool in the dressing. This step is essential as it allows the pasta to absorb the vibrant flavors of the lime, chili, and cumin. Chilling the salad for at least an hour before serving further melds these flavors, enhancing the overall taste.3. Uniformity: Dice the bell peppers and tomatoes to a consistent size for aesthetic appeal and even distribution of texture and flavor throughout the salad. For an extra kick, consider adding finely diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.4. Freshness: Use fresh lime juice and cilantro for the best flavor profile; bottled juice won't yield the same brightness. Freshly crushed garlic is also superior to powdered.