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Mexican Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
Mexican Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
5 Reviews
From the EatingWell Kitchen
Everyone will love this Mexican-inspired pasta salad recipe. We lighten up the creamy dressing with avocado for a healthier version of a picnic favorite.
- By: Breana Lai EatingWell Test Kitchen Manager
Ingredients 6 servings
for serving adjustment
Serving size has been adjusted!
Original recipe yields 6 servings
Nutrition per serving may change if servings are adjusted.
- Dressing
- ½ ripe avocado
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 small clove garlic, grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- Pasta Salad
- 8 ounces whole-wheat fusilli (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup canned black beans, rinsed
- ½ cup corn, fresh or frozen (thawed)
- ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
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Active
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Ready In
- To prepare dressing: Combine avocado, mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic, salt and cumin in a mini food processor. Puree until smooth.
- To prepare pasta salad: Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, then drain again. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in tomatoes, beans, corn, Cheddar, onion and cilantro. Add the dressing and toss to coat.
- Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate, without dressing, for up to 1 day. Toss with the dressing about 1 hour before serving.
- Serving size: 1 cup
- Per serving: 290 calories; 13 g fat(3 g sat); 6 g fiber; 37 g carbohydrates; 8 g protein; 38 mcg folate; 13 mg cholesterol; 3 g sugars; 0 g added sugars; 401 IU vitamin A; 9 mg vitamin C; 80 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 343 mg sodium; 254 mg potassium
- Carbohydrate Servings: 2½
- Exchanges: 2 fat, ½ vegetable, 2 starch, ½ high-fat protein
Reviews 5
June 06, 2017
By: h.mckune
great! the only change i made was that I used a little less pasta.
June 01, 2017
By: Deborah
I will try this when my cherry tomatoes come in. In my garden I also have cilantro growing and garlic so the recipe is very easy thank you very much I will try this very soon looks very yummy and is very easy I will not change a thing
May 09, 2017
By: thersrud
Easy to make and the avocado dressing is yummy but a little too tart. I topped it with grilled chicken for a one dish meal. Next time around I'll reduce the lime juice and increase the cumin. Definitely will make this again.
July 24, 2016
By: EatingWell User
Very good and easy to make esp in hot weather.
For extra protein a can of salmon or tuna makes a good addition.
May 09, 2016
By: EatingWell User
So delicious!
I made this pasta salad for Mother's Day. Everyone loved it. The Avocado dressing really makes this salad. I did not use fresh cilantro because my husband does not like it, but the salad was good without it.
Pros: very easy to make, healthy ingredients
