It's my way, making pasta salad

Roasted Corn Pasta Salad

During the summer BBQs are filled with Pasta Salads, Macaroni Salad being the staple. I've gone through many recipes, healthy not so healthy. My latest take is Roasted Corn Pasta Salad with organic mayo prepared with NYC Hot Sauce. Result... deliciousness!

What you will need:

Medium Avocado 

1/2 Bunch of Cilantro

1 Lime

1/2 Lemon

Handful of Cherry Tomatoes

1/4 of Jalapeno chopped

2 cups Frozen Roasted Corn (TJs, Corn necessarily doesn't have to be organic)

1 cup Black Beans (I used dried beans and cooked them, but box black beans work just as well)

4 slices of Smoked Bacon (Nitrate Free!)

1 cup Organic Mayo (TJs Organic Mayo)

1 tsp to 1 tbl NYC Hot Sauce

2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Pinch of Salt and Pepper

Additional:

Lemon Pasta form Trader Joes

Kelp Noodles

Zucchini Noodles

Mixed Greens

 If you decided to use dried black beans, soak them over night then simmer them on the stove with 2 cloves of garlic for an hour to an hour and half. I wanted my beans to have a bite and not be mushy, took about an hour and fifteen minutes. Place cooked beans in a dish and set aside to cool. If you used boxed black beans, rinse and set aside.

Take your bag of roasted corn from the freezer and thaw about 2 cups and set aside.

If you are going the pasta/noodle path, you will need to cook your pasta according to the directions. Once cooked cool and let the pasta dry. If using kelp or zucchini, cook in a slow boil for 3 - 5 minutes and set aside to cool and dry as well.

While the pasta/veggies noodles are cooking start chapping the cherry tomatoes in half. Chop up your cilantro, do not need to finely chop cilantro. Chop the jalapeno as well. Jalapeno is optional, if you like spice go ahead and add! Cut the avocado into small squares.

Slice up the bacon and cook on the stove top. Once bacon is crispy place on a paper towel to soak up some of the grease and let cool.

While the pasta/ veggie noodles are drying start to make the sauce. In a bowl add about 1 cup of organic mayo. squeeze both the lime and lemon into the mayo. Add the cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper. Mix those ingredients. While mixing add in NYC Hot Sauce (you can use your favorite hot sauce or sriracha). Add salt and pepper to taste.

Once beans, corn and pasta/ veggies noodles are dry and cool add all into a big dish with bacon, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeno. I like to use a dish that I have a lid, so I can give it a good shake to mix. Add the cut avocado and about half of the mayo sauce. Either stir the mixture or put the lid on and shake (que the song Shake Senora).

If you wanted to go low carb - skip adding the pasta and just mix beans, corn, tomato, etc with sauce then place on top of mixed greens. Healthy and delicious!

You can eat the pasta salad warm, but the flavor really comes out if you let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so!

Enjoy! xoxo