Pasta Salad with Cotija (Printable)

Smoky grilled zucchini and charred corn tossed with pasta, Cotija and a zesty lime dressing for a bright summer dish.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 225 g (8 oz) short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium zucchinis, sliced lengthwise
03 - 2 ears fresh corn, husked (or 1 ½ cups frozen corn, thawed)
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Cheese

07 - 3/4 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
10 - 1 tsp honey or agave syrup
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - 1/2 tsp cumin
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
02 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly brush the zucchini slices and corn with olive oil.
03 - Grill the zucchini for about 2-3 minutes per side, until tender and lightly charred. Grill the corn, turning occasionally, for 8–10 minutes until slightly charred.
04 - Transfer grilled zucchini to a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces. Slice the corn off the cob.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, grilled zucchini, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, half the Cotija cheese, and cilantro.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Pour dressing over the salad and toss well to combine.
07 - Top salad with remaining Cotija cheese and serve immediately or chill for 1 hour for enhanced flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • With smoky grilled veggies and crisp-tender pasta, every bite feels like a tiny celebration of summer.
  • The zesty lime dressing sneaks up and brightens the whole bowl—just like that one friend who always knows how to liven up a party.
02 -
  • Dress the salad just before serving or the veggies can turn limp and soggy.
  • Chilling for an hour transforms the flavors and lets the cheese nestle into every nook—worth the wait.
03 -
  • Don’t overcook your pasta or it’ll turn mushy once tossed with dressing.
  • Grill veggies with a touch of patience for those perfect smoky notes—char means flavor here.
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