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Fresh Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad Recipe Easy Homemade Honey Lime Dressing

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A vibrant and easy-to-make pasta salad featuring black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy-sweet honey lime cilantro dressing. Perfect for summer barbecues, potlucks, or quick weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1½ cups uncooked rotini pasta (about 170g or 6 oz)
  • 1 can (15 oz/425g) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
  • ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced (optional)
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (or agave syrup for vegan)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1½ cups (170g) of rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
  2. While pasta cooks, rinse and drain one 15 oz (425g) can of black beans, and thaw 1 cup of corn kernels if frozen. Halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, dice ½ cup red bell pepper and ½ cup red onion finely. Roughly chop ½ cup fresh cilantro and dice 1 avocado if using (add avocado last to prevent browning).
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro, 1 minced garlic clove, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust honey or lime juice to preference.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro. Pour dressing over ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly. Fold in avocado last if using.
  5. Cover salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Before serving, gently toss and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent mushiness and sticking. Add avocado last to prevent browning. For vegan version, substitute honey with agave or maple syrup. Dressing can be made ahead and stored separately to keep salad crisp. Adjust seasoning and sweetness of dressing to taste. Use gluten-free pasta for gluten-sensitive diets. Add diced jalapeño for heat if desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy caviar, pasta salad, honey lime dressing, cilantro dressing, black beans, summer salad, easy pasta salad, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://snappyspoon.com/fresh-cowboy-caviar-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-honey-lime-dressing/