Mexican Street Corn Orzo Pasta Salad

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Ingredients for making Mexican Street Corn Orzo Pasta Salad.

Orzo

Olive oil

Frozen corn

Cannellini beans

Red bell pepper

Red onion

Jalapeño

Fresh cilantro

Vegan mayonnaise

Lime

Distilled white or apple cider vinegar

Chipotle powder

Chili powder

Ground cumin

Dried oregano

Tajin seasoning (optional)

Vegan feta cheese for serving (optional)

Kale (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

📖 Instructions

Mexican-Inspired Street Corn Orzo Pasta Salad is versatile and easy to make.

Cook the orzo pasta first so it has time to cool before mixing it into the salad. You can also serve this as a warm salad as desired.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the corn kernels. You can use fresh or frozen corn to make this recipe. You do not need to thaw frozen corn before using.

Sautéed sweet corn kernels in a large skillet.

Sauté the frozen sweet corn in a large skillet until golden brown.

To save time, chop your veggies while the corn is browning. Stir the corn occasionally so it doesn't burn.

Ingredients for Mexican Street Corn Orzo Pasta Salad in a bowl: orzo, red bell pepper, sweet corn kernels, seasonings, Tajin, red onion, white beans, lime, distilled white vinegar, vegan mayonnaise, jalapeño

Add the ingredients to a large bowl. Mix gently to combine.

Serve your flavorful Mexican Street Corn Orzo Pasta Salad as is, or top with vegan feta, chopped parsley, or other fresh herbs you have on hand.

I added vegan Violife feta for serving.

🌱 Substitutions

Orzo - instead of orzo, use macaroni, conchigliette, or another variety of small pasta shape

Cannellini beans - use Great Northern, navy, pinto, or black beans instead

Herbs - add chopped fresh herbs you have on hand (cilantro, green onion, dill, thyme)

Red onion - instead of red onion, used chopped shallots

Red bell peppers - substitute for yellow or orange bell peppers

Kale - add finely chopped kale for extra nutrients and to increase the number of servings

Brussels sprouts - Add shredded Brussels sprouts for a power bowl! Pulse the Brussels in a food processor until evenly shredded before adding.

💡 Top Tip

Massage the kale into the salad (if using) until just wilted.

What is Tajin seasoning?

Tajin was created by a Mexican company. It is made from a mix of dried and ground red chilis, salt, dehydrated lime juice, and a small amount of anti-caking agent. No artificial flavors, artificial colorants, or sugar are used.
Tajin adds a fresh, citrusy, and mildly spicy flavor, and pairs well with fruit, veggies, popcorn, salads, stews, soups, and more. It's a great seasoning to experiment with. There's also a low-sodium version.

Where can you buy Tajin seasoning?

Some major supermarket chains carry it, or you can purchase Tajin from Amazon.

📖 Recipe