The pasta needs enough time to absorb some of the zesty dressing. You must let the ingredients of the pasta salad meld together in the fridge for at least 1 hour. It’s always best to add more salt and pepper to the dressing than the finished dish. Make sure to taste the lime dressing before tossing it together with the other pasta salad ingredients. Overly cooked pasta will result in a dish with a mushy texture. It’s very important to run cold water over your cooked pasta to stop it from continuing to cook. If you don’t the pasta will be bland and you’ll end up with a less flavorful salad. To properly season your pasta, you need to add enough salt to the cooking water so that it tastes salty like the sea. You can also use feta cheese if you can’t find any cotija at your local market. Cotija Cheese – It’s a type of dry crumbly cheese popular in Latin food.Jalapeno – Mixed into the salad to add a little extra kick! Serrano peppers are a good choice too.Cilantro – No Tex-Mex inspired recipe would be complete without the addition of some chopped fresh cilantro for some herby Latin flavor.Red Onion – A little sweeter and more mild than yellow onions they are perfect in pasta salads.Green Bell Pepper – Adds some flavor and a lovely crunch! You can use any color of bell pepper you like.Yet, any type of fresh tomato cut into bite-size pieces will do the trick. Cherry Tomatoes – Fresh ripe cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes cut into halves are ideal.I used canned corn, but frozen corn will work just as well. Corn – The corn adds some more texture and sweetness.You can also use pinto beans if you like. Black Beans – Canned black beans are perfect in salads.But any small-shaped regular or gluten-free pasta will work such as farfalle, macaroni, rigatoni, or rotini pasta. Pasta – I typically use fusilli or penne pasta.With its southwest-inspired ingredients, it’s a delightful twist on traditional pasta salads that will add a burst of color and flavor to any table and leave your taste buds wanting more!īut that’s not all! This vegetarian pasta salad is not only delicious but it’s also a great make-ahead side dish that pairs perfectly with all your warm weather BBQ favorites like grilled chicken breast, burgers, and hot dogs! This means that you can plan ahead and then focus on enjoying the festivities with your friends and family on the day of the event! This incredibly easy Southwest Pasta Salad recipe is super yummy with a delightful kick! It combines the flavors of black beans, corn, tomatoes, and jalapeños together with perfectly cooked pasta and a zesty lime dressing with a bit of spice. Is there a way to make this salad less spicy?.

Can I use other types of pasta for this salad?.

Can I make this Southwest Pasta Salad recipe vegan?.

Can I make this pasta salad ahead of time?.Why You’ll Love This Southwest Pasta Salad.

Famous tik tok feta pasta recipe