Description
This Taco Pasta Salad with Chipotle Lime Crema is a flavorful fusion of Mexican-inspired flavors and comforting pasta, perfect for potlucks or a quick weeknight dinner. It’s packed with protein, fresh veggies, and a creamy, smoky dressing.
Ingredients
- 250g (2 cups) Rotini Pasta
- 225g (½ lb) Ground Halab Meat or Chicken
- 2 tsp (10 ml) Olive Oil, divided
- 1 tsp (5g) Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp (5g) Smoked Paprika
- ½ tsp (2.5g) Chili Powder
- ½ tsp (2.5g) Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp (2.5g) Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- ½ cup (120 ml) Black Beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup (120 ml) Corn Kernels, thawed
- ½ Red Bell Pepper, diced
- 2 Green Onions, sliced
- ¼ cup (15g) Cilantro, chopped
- 1 Lime, zest and juice
- 120g (½ cup) Greek Yogurt
- ½ tsp (2.5g) Chipotle Powder
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (for crema)
- 2 tbsp (30g) Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente, drain, and rinse.
- Brown Meat & Season: Brown meat, drain grease, and season with cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Combine Ingredients: Toss pasta, meat, beans, corn, bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro.
- Make Crema: Whisk yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, chipotle powder, and olive oil.
- Dress & Chill: Drizzle salad with olive oil and lime juice, fold in half the crema, and chill for 20-30 minutes.
- Serve & Garnish: Serve with remaining crema and pumpkin seeds.
Notes
Chilling the salad allows flavors to meld. Adjust chipotle powder for desired spice level.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg