Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

Tip: Pepitas are pumpkin seeds, but they differ from the seeds you scrape out of your Halloween pumpkin: they come from certain varieties of pumpkins that produce seeds without a tough outer hull. You can find pepitas in bulk bins in natural-foods stores and large supermarkets, and online at nuts.com and elsewhere. To toast: Set a small pan over medium heat and add pepitas. Cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 1 to 2 minutes.

To make ahead: Cook pasta up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate.