Creamy Southwest Pasta Salad with Black Beans & Corn (Vegan Recipe)

Should you’re in want of a incredible facet dish for a celebration, picnic, barbecue, or simply for dinner at house, this creamy southwestern pasta salad with chipotle dressing is difficult to beat.

With its combination of spices, lime juice, corn, black beans, and extra, it’s a tremendous twist in your commonplace pasta salad recipe.

This salad has bell peppers, onion, beans and tomato, so it’s a good way to get extra plant-based meals into your weight-reduction plan. To not point out – it’s full of flavour because of the chipotle dressing!

For one thing so easy to make, this chilly pasta salad will definitely find yourself on rotation at your home for summers to come back!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Vegetarian and vegan (dairy-free), in addition to simply made gluten-free.
• Fast & straightforward! You may put this collectively in a few half hour.
• Nice for entertaining.
• Supplies 18 grams of plant-based protein and 11 g of fiber per serving – or extra should you use complete wheat pasta!
• Versatile! It could actually work as a facet dish, appetizer, or mild lunch or dinner.
• Filled with taste because of Tex-Mex/Southwestern favorites like chipotle powder, lime, and roasted corn.
• It’s great for meal prep because the flavours get even higher after storing.

Pasta Salad Substances

A whole listing of elements with quantities and full directions is situated within the printable recipe card beneath. This part covers ingredient and substitution concerns.

• Pasta: This recipe requires about 375 g of rotini pasta. Nevertheless, you possibly can substitute it on your favorite variety, together with gluten-free or complete wheat varieties. Small pasta shapes like bows, mini shells, macaroni, fusilli and penne work finest.
• Black Beans: Canned black beans work or you should use chickpeas, kidney beans or pinto beans. I like black beans finest for this recipe although.
• Corn kernels: Use contemporary, thawed and drained frozen, or canned corn, relying on what’s obtainable to you. Recent is finest throughout the late summer season months when corn is in season!
• Olive oil: You’ll want 2 tsp to roast the corn. Avocado oil and canola oil are good substitutes. It’s finest to not omit the oil because it prevents the corn from drying out!
• Smoked Paprika: Should you don’t have smoked paprika you possibly can add common paprika however the smoked paprika does add a pleasant trace of smoky flavour to the salad.
• Chipotle Powder: Should you don’t have the chipotle powder you should use 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce or 2-3 tsp of the adobo sauce from the can.
• Different Spices: You’ll want cumin, salt and pepper. Be happy to regulate these as essential to your desire. Should you’d like slightly extra warmth you possibly can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or pink pepper flakes.
• Roasted cashews: You should use roasted or uncooked cashews for the dressing however roasted cashews add a pleasant layer of flavour. We’ll cowl some choices for making this recipe nut-free beneath.
• Garlic: A contemporary clove of garlic is finest however you should use 1 tsp of garlic powder as an alternative if that’s what you could have.
• Tomato: You should use grape tomato, cherry tomato or Roma tomato.
• Bell Peppers: The recipe requires pink bell pepper however you should use any color of bell pepper reminiscent of inexperienced or yellow bell pepper.
• Jalapeno: You should definitely de-seed the jalapeno and wash nicely (and wash palms nicely after dealing with!). Poblano pepper would work as an alternative.
• Cilantro: Skip it should you’re not a fan!
• Limes: You’ll want 2-3 contemporary limes to make the lime juice and lime zest.

Step 1: Prepare dinner Your Pasta

In a big pot of salted boiling water, prepare dinner your pasta based on bundle directions. As soon as cooked, drain and rinse nicely beneath chilly water. This may cease the cooking and assist stop the pasta from sticking collectively as soon as cooled. 

Step 2: Roast the Corn & Jalapeno

Whereas the pasta is cooking, combine collectively the corn kernels, diced jalapeno, and olive oil in a medium-sized bowl (or simply combine on the baking tray). Place this combination evenly on a baking sheet and roast within the oven on broil for two minutes.

Give it a stir after which place it again within the oven for a further 2 minutes or till the corn is golden brown. Take away it from the oven and let cool.

Step 3: Make The Chipotle Dressing

As soon as the cashews have soaked, add the cashews and water to a blender together with the spices, garlic, lime juice, and zest. Mix till fully clean.

If wanted, you could want slightly water to regulate the consistency. It must be thick and creamy however in a position to be poured from the blender.

Fast Tip: When getting ready the lime zest, ensure you’re utilizing the inexperienced peel solely and never the bitter white pith beneath. A citrus zester works finest for this!

Notes & Suggestions

1. Timing: Begin a pot of boiling water for the pasta and get the cashews soaking instantly. When you wait, chop up the contemporary elements so that you’re able to go.
2. Serving Measurement: This recipe can simply be reduce in half or doubled as wanted.
3. No-Prepare dinner: You may skip the roasted corn and simply contemporary, canned or thawed frozen to make this even simpler with cooking concerned.
4. Spiciness: For extra warmth, add as much as 1/2 tsp cayenne or pink chili flakes. You may as well add extra chipotle powder or 1-2 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.

Variations & Additions

• Add diced avocado as a topping upon serving.
• Add as much as 1 cup of sliced black olives.
• Add as much as 1 cup of finely chopped scallions (inexperienced onion).
• Sprinkle with feta cheese, cotija cheese, queso fresco or grated cheddar for serving.
• Southwest Macaroni Salad: Use macaroni noodles as a substitute of rotini.

Serving Options

• The salad might be served by itself for a lightweight and refreshing meal.
• As a facet salad, it’s nice for BBQs, picnics, grilling and potlucks.
• Serve with any protein on the facet or combined into the salad.
• Serve with this quinoa beet burger or chickpea burger.