Description
Experience a burst of Southwest flavors with this vibrant Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad Recipe. Perfect for summer BBQs or casual gatherings, this dish combines hearty ingredients like black beans, roasted corn, and a creamy cashew dressing to create a satisfying meal that’s not only delicious but also nutritious. With its colorful ingredients and zesty dressing, it’s an eye-catching centerpiece that everyone will love. Best of all, it can be prepared in just 25 minutes and tastes even better after chilling in the fridge for a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Whether served as a main course or a refreshing side dish, this pasta salad is sure to impress!
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces whole wheat pasta
- 16 ounces cherry/grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded & diced
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 cup finely chopped cilantro
- 1 14-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed
- 2 cups fire-roasted corn (frozen is fine!)
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup raw cashews (unsalted)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2–3 chipotle peppers, packed in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt the water.
- Add in the pasta and cook to al dente according to package directions.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water. Set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing by adding all listed ingredients to a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- In a large mixing bowl, add halved tomatoes and season them with ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Toss to combine.
- Add in diced bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, black beans, corn, and cooked pasta.
- Pour the creamy vegan southwest dressing over the top.
- Toss everything together until well combined. Season with additional kosher salt & ground black pepper as needed.
- Enjoy your Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad immediately! However, let it sit for a few hours if possible; the flavors develop beautifully over time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg