The other day I was in yoga and it was the end of the class where we were supposed to relax and clear our mind. I tried to clear my mind, but I kept thinking about food. More specifically, pasta salad. We had just harvested a bunch of cilantro, so I think that was on my mind too. While relaxing, I came up with the concept for this delicious pasta salad. It is perfect as a main dish – especially with a bit of grilled chicken or avocado hunks in it. We also served it the other night as a side dish with burgers. It’s amazing!

Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
1 lb. pasta, any variety, cooked
1 can black beans, drained a rinsed
1 cup frozen corn, just throw into the strainer with the black beans
1 cup chopped bell peppers, any color
4 or 5 green onions, chopped
Cilantro lime dressing, see below
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese, or Feta

Cilantro lime dressing
1 cup of fresh cilantro, washed
1 to 2 tsp. of minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream
2 T lime juice
1 tsp. red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Purée in food processor, taste sauce and see if it needs a bit more spice. Pour over cooked pasta and veggies, mix well. Add Cotija cheese and mix it again and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cindy