Dairy-Free Street Corn Pasta Salad

Creamy and zesty, this Dairy-Free Street Corn Pasta Salad is a plant-based twist on a summertime classic that’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or weekday meals. Featuring tender pasta, smoky sautéed corn, crisp red bell peppers, and fresh cilantro, this dish is elevated with a tangy lime and vegan mayonnaise dressing infused with smoky paprika and cumin. Nutritional yeast adds a hint of cheesy flavor without dairy, and optional jalapeños bring a kick of heat for spice lovers. Topped with dairy-free feta or cotija-style crumbles, this vibrant and easy-to-make salad is served cold or at room temperature, allowing the bold flavors to shine. Quick to prepare and incredibly versatile, this is the ultimate go-to side dish or light main course that fits effortlessly into a dairy-free lifestyle.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Pasta (choose rotini, bowtie, or macaroni)
• 2 cups Corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 0.5 small Red onion, diced
• 1 medium Red bell pepper, diced
• 0.5 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 tbsp Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• 0.5 cup Vegan mayonnaise
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Ground cumin
• 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
• 2 tbsp Nutritional yeast (for a cheesy flavor)
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Black pepper
• 0.25 cup Optional: Dairy-free feta cheese or cotija-style crumble
• 1 small Optional: Diced jalapeño for extra spice

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, and set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels and sauté for 4-5 minutes until slightly charred, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, vegan mayonnaise, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, charred corn, diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, chopped cilantro, and optional diced jalapeño if using.

Step 5

Drizzle the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently until everything is well coated.

Step 6

If desired, sprinkle the pasta salad with dairy-free feta or cotija-style crumbles for an extra burst of creamy, tangy flavor.

Step 7

Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Serve cold or at room temperature as a side dish or light main course. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1309.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1726.7

Total Fat 74.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 18.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 14.6g
Cholesterol 27mg	0%
Sodium 3383.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 236.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.9g	0%
Total Sugars 38.3g
Protein 45.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 188.3mg	0%
Iron 11.0mg	0%
Potassium 1871.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.2%

Protein: 10.2%

Carbs: 52.6%