Cold Southwestern Bow Tie Pasta

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Zesty Mexican-inspired flavors, including black beans, avocado, cilantro, and chiles, flavor a bow tie pasta salad that's sure to be a hit at your next potluck.

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground red chile pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (9 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1/2 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained
2 green onions, sliced
2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and diced

Directions

1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the bow tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain.
2 Whisk olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic powder, cumin, ground chile pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a large bowl. Stir corn, black beans, diced tomatoes and green chiles, and green onions into the dressing to coat. Gently mix avocados into bean mixture; fold bow tie pasta into the salad. Cover salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.