Description
An easy vegan pasta salad with plenty of Southwest flair. Made with black beans, roasted corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, & an easy & creamy cashew southwest dressing. Perfect to make-ahead for parties & quick dinners this summer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces whole wheat pasta
- 16 ounces cherry/grape 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
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup raw cashews (unsalted)
- 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
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt the water. Add in the pasta and cook to al dente, according to package directions. Drain the pasta, rinsing with cold water, and set aside.
- Make the creamy vegan southwest dressing: Meanwhile, as the pasta boils, prep the dressing. Add all listed ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Assemble the vegan southwest pasta salad: Add the halved tomatoes to a large mixing bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, tossing to combine. Add in the bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, black beans, corn, and cooked pasta. Pour the creamy vegan southwest dressing over top. Toss to combine, seasoning with additional kosher salt & ground black pepper as needed.
- Serve & enjoy: You can serve this pasta salad immediately, though we like it best after it has sat for a few hours.
Notes
Use your favorite vegan pasta. Creamy vegan Southwest pasta salad will keep, stored in an airtight container, for up to 5 days. The dressing can be made in advance and stored for up to 1 week; stir in a few splashes of water if it thickens.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: vegan pasta salad, southwest, oil-free, cashew dressing, summer salad, meal prep