Elote Pasta Salad

This is the summer of corn. I've been eating so much of it lately and putting it into everything! 

I couldn't decide if I wanted this to be a creamy pasta salad or not so I used burrata cheese so that some bites would be creamy and some wouldn't! You could totally add mayo though and make it a creamy pasta salad if you want! 

If you don't have access to a Trader Joes, you could make your own elote seasoning at home! I would use 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 tbsp cotija cheese and then 1/4 tsp cumin powder.​ The lime juice and cilantro that are added to the pasta salad will add a more "street corn" flavor to the overall dish as well.

What you need:

• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 4 ears of corn
• 2 tbsp Trader Joe's "Everything but Elote" seasoning (see note above if you don't live near a TJ's)
• 3 tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley
• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• Optional - 1/2 cup mayo or greek yogurt + garlic powder for a creamer pasta salad
• Optional topping: burrata cheese

What to do:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions.
2. While the pasta cooks, char the corn by cooking the ears in a large skillet with vegetable oil until charred and somewhat blackened. (You can do this on a grill too!)
3. Cut the corn off the cob and mix it with the seasoning, cilantro or parsley, vinegar and lime juice.
4. After draining the pasta, rinse it with cold water to bring down the temp before adding it to the other ingredients.
5. Chill for an hour before serving. Or not, it's good hot too LOL.