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Southwest Pasta Salad by Our Best Bites

Southwest Pasta Salad

5 from 24 votes
A fresh and flavorful twist on a traditional pasta salad.  Filled with fresh veggies, black beans, and a zesty dressing!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Servings6 dinner-sized servings (10 - 12 side servings)
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Equipment

Ingredients

Salad

  • ½ lb bowtie pasta
  • 1 14-oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 roma tomatoes, diced or about ¾ cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 bell pepper, red, yellow, or orange large, diced small
  • ½ cup green onions sliced
  • ½ cup corn, frozen
  • zest from 2 limes
  • 8 ounces chicken, cooked, diced optional; try our taco chicken
  • ½ cup Queso Fresco or Cotija Cheese or you could substitute grated jack, cheddar or pepperjack

Dressing

  • 6 tablespoons lime juice, fresh about 3 juicy limes
  • ¼ cup white wine or rice vinegar
  • 4-5 cloves garlic roughly chopped
  • 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 2 teaspoon sugar add a touch more if your limes are extra sour/bitter
  • ¾ cup canola oil
  • ½ cup cilantro roughly chopped

Instructions

Cook Pasta

  • Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions. While it's cooking, prepare dressing.

Dressing

  • Zest limes and place the zest in a large salad bowl.
  • Place the lime juice, vinegar, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt and sugar in a blender.  (Basically everything except the cilantro and oil). 
  • Process until smooth. With the motor running slowly, add the oil in a steady stream until incorporated.
  • Add the cilantro and pulse so it gets broken up, but some pieces still remain in tact.

Combine Salad Ingredients

  • When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse immediately with cold water to cool.
  • Place the pasta in the large salad bowl with the lime zest.  Add black beans, tomatoes, diced pepper, green onions, corn (no need to thaw the corn), and chicken if desired. Toss with dressing. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
  • Chill for 1 hour before serving.
  • Right before serving, sprinkle cheese on top. Serve with extra lime wedges if desired.
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Southwest Pasta Salad
Author: Sara Wells
Cost: $8
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