Description
Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish that’s perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or quick dinners. This salad features hearty ingredients like black beans and roasted corn, all tossed in a creamy cashew dressing that delivers a delightful taste experience. In just 25 minutes, you can whip up this crowd-pleaser that serves eight—ideal for BBQs or meal prepping. With the flexibility to customize ingredients based on your preferences, this salad is as versatile as it is delicious. Enjoy it fresh or let it chill to enhance the flavors; either way, it’s sure to impress everyone at the table!
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces whole wheat pasta
- 16 ounces cherry 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
- 1 cup raw cashews (unsalted)
- 1 cup water
- 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
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Cook 16 ounces of whole wheat pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a high-speed blender, combine 1 cup raw cashews (soaked), 1 cup water, juice of 1 lime, 3 cloves garlic, 2–3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Blend until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes (16 ounces), diced red bell pepper (1), diced red onion (1 small), chopped cilantro (1 cup), drained black beans (14 ounces), and fire-roasted corn (2 cups). Add cooked pasta and pour over the dressing. Toss well and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately or let chill for enhanced flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 200g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg