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Amazing 30-Minute Mexican Street Corn Pasta with Lime

Mexican Street Corn Pasta with Lime
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Bring the bright, zesty flavors of Mexican street corn to your dinner table with this simple and satisfying pasta dish. It is a fresh take on a classic combination.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pasta (penne or rotini work well)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, corn, cotija cheese, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, and smoked paprika.
  6. Stir constantly until the sauce is smooth and heated through. Do not boil.
  7. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste.
  8. Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat completely with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  9. Serve immediately. Top each bowl with extra cotija cheese and fresh cilantro.

Notes

  • For an extra layer of smoky flavor, char your corn kernels in a dry skillet before adding them to the sauce.
  • You can substitute feta cheese for cotija if you cannot find it, though the flavor will be slightly different.
  • This recipe keeps well for leftovers, though you may need to add a splash of milk or broth when reheating to restore creaminess.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonsprout.com/mexican-street-corn-pasta-with-lime/