Cold Pasta Salad With Black Beans And Corn
Summer is the perfect time for refreshing and light dishes. The warmth of the sun makes us crave cold and fresh foods that can help us beat the heat. One of the best recipes for summer is a cold pasta salad with black beans and corn. It's a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and backyard barbecues. In this article, we will be sharing with you a recipe for this amazing dish that you can try at home!
Ingredients
The first thing you need to do is gather all the necessary ingredients. Here are the items you will need for this recipe:
- 1 lb. of pasta
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 can of corn
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 small red onion
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. of ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. of chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Now that you have all the ingredients, it's time to start cooking. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make this delicious cold pasta salad:
- Start by cooking the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large bowl, mix together the black beans, corn, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and red onion.
- Add the chopped cilantro to the bowl and mix everything together.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, ground cumin, and chili powder.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss everything together until everything is combined.
- Add the cooked pasta to the bowl and mix everything together again.
- Taste the salad and add salt and pepper to your liking.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors combine.
- Take the bowl out of the refrigerator and give the salad one last mix before serving.
- Garnish with some extra cilantro if desired.
Variations
This recipe is a great base that you can adjust and tweak to your liking. Here are some variations you can try:
- Instead of black beans, you can use kidney beans or chickpeas.
- If you're not a fan of cilantro, you can use parsley, basil, or green onions to add some freshness to the dish.
- You can add some diced avocado to the salad to add some creaminess.
- You can add some diced jalapenos or chipotle peppers to add some heat.
Final Thoughts
Cold pasta salad with black beans and corn is a delicious and refreshing dish that is perfect for any summer gathering. It's easy to make, customizable, and can be served as a main dish or as a side dish. This recipe is a great way to get creative in the kitchen while also staying healthy and nourished. So next time you're looking for a summer dish that will impress your guests, give this recipe a try!