Corn Pasta Salad with Bacon and Creamy Pesto Dressing

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Corn Pasta Salad with Bacon and Creamy Pesto Dressing produces a wonderful appetizer, small meal, or even dinner in about 30 minutes!  This delicious side dish is ideal for sharing at picnics, potlucks, BBQs, or gatherings.  The combination of flavors—fresh, salty, and sweet—will be adored by your family and friends!  Year-round and in the summer, make it.

Corn pasta salad

Fresh fruit (such corn and bell peppers), fresh cilantro, and spaghetti with basil make up this delicious pasta salad.  It's a versatile recipe that can be altered to use whatever you have on hand.

Corn pasta salad Ingredients

Corn pasta salad

  • 8 oz orecchiette pasta or other short pasta
  • 1 cup corn kernels cooked
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 4 slices bacon cooked and sliced
  • fresh cilantro chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Salad dressing

  • ⅓ cup basil pesto store-bought or homemade
  • 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

Cook pasta

  1. Water is being heated in a pot. Add the pasta and prepare it as directed on the package. Drain.
  2. Continue with the rest of the recipe while the pasta is cooking.

Make salad dressing

  1. Combine basil pesto, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and freshly squeezed lime juice in a mason jar.
  2. You can thin out a heavy dressing by adding more Greek yogurt, a little more water, or extra lime (or lemon) juice. Or, a combination of the things I just mentioned.

Assembly

  1. Combine the cooked and drained pasta with the cooked corn, diced bell pepper, and chopped cooked bacon in a sizable bowl. To mingle, blend.
  2. Put the ingredients into separate salad bowls. Add the salad dressing on top. Add fresh cilantro that has been chopped on top.

Variations

  • Pasta.  I used orecchiette pasta, but any short pasta will work.  Fusilli (spiral pasta) and little pasta shells are examples of this. Your next best option will be bow-tie pasta (farfalle). Alternately, you can use rotini, rigatoni, or penne.
  • substitute prosciutto for bacon.  The prosciutto can be briefly crisped up in a preheated oven at 350 F for about 10 minutes.
  • wholesome herbs.  I've used fresh cilantro in this recipe, but you could also use fresh thyme or basil leaves.
  • If desired, include cheese.  Great options include feta cheese, goat cheese, and tiny mozzarella pearls. You might also add some grated Parmesan cheese to the corn pasta salad. To make it a fantastic and simple midweek dinner, add a protein such grilled chicken, sautéed or grilled shrimp, or salmon.

Cooking tips

  • For the greatest texture, prepare pasta al dente.  The pasta salad goes best with this kind of texture, especially if you want to prepare it ahead of time. Normal boiling times for pasta must be reduced by two minutes in order to cook it al dente. For instance, if the pasta box directions say to boil it for 10 minutes, cook it for 8 minutes instead.
  • Make it free of gluten.  Use any pasta you choose that is gluten-free.  Here, gluten-free pasta made from lentils or chickpeas tastes fantastic.

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