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Creamy Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad Recipe with Avocado Lime Dressing

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A refreshing and creamy pasta salad featuring a southwestern cowboy caviar mix and a tangy avocado lime dressing, perfect for summer gatherings and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Water, as needed to thin the dressing

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, dice red bell pepper, finely chop red onion, halve cherry tomatoes, chop cilantro, and mince jalapeño if using. Rinse and drain black beans and corn.
  3. In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, honey, cumin, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Add water a tablespoon at a time to thin dressing to desired consistency.
  4. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, black beans, corn, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, jalapeño, and cilantro. Pour dressing over and gently toss to coat evenly.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld. Adjust seasoning if needed and garnish with extra cilantro or lime wedges.

Notes

If you don’t have a blender, mash avocado with a fork and whisk other dressing ingredients by hand. Use gluten-free pasta for gluten-free option. Adjust jalapeño for desired spice level. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Stir or add lime juice to freshen dressing if it browns.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy caviar, pasta salad, avocado lime dressing, summer salad, southwestern salad, creamy pasta salad, healthy pasta salad

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