Go Back
–+ servings
Southwestern Pasta Salad with Avocado Serrano Dressing – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Southwestern Pasta Salad with Avocado Serrano Dressing

A vibrant and satisfying Southwestern-inspired pasta salad featuring penne, crunchy jicama, pinto beans, and a creamy, zesty avocado-serrano dressing. Perfect for a healthy and flavorful meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 serving
Calories: 560

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces (340 g / 12 oz) penne pasta
  • 1 serrano chile, seeded
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 2 ripe Hass avocados, divided
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml / 1.5 fl oz) freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 16-ounce / 450g (15.9 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 small jicama, peeled and shredded
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup (15 g / 0.53 oz) chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
  • Salad greens, for serving
  • To prevent the diced avocado from browning, toss it with a small squeeze of lime juice before adding it to the salad.
  • For a milder dressing, use half a serrano chile. For more heat, leave a few of the seeds in when you add it to the food processor.
  • If making ahead, store the dressing and the salad separately in the refrigerator. Combine them and add the fresh diced avocado just before serving to maintain the best texture and color.

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook the penne according to package directions until al dente, typically about 10 minutes.
  3. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
  4. While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing.
  5. In a food processor, combine the seeded serrano chile and the garlic clove and mince.
  6. Halve and pit one of the avocados. Scoop the flesh into the food processor along with the lime juice and chili powder. Process until completely smooth.
  7. With the processor running, slowly stream in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified and creamy.
  8. Season with salt to your liking and process once more to combine.
  9. In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta, drained pinto beans, shredded jicama, chopped red onion, halved tomatoes, and fresh cilantro.
  10. Peel, pit, and dice the remaining avocado and gently add it to the bowl.
  11. Pour the creamy avocado dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
  12. Serve immediately on a bed of fresh salad greens.
  13. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of roasted or grilled corn for a sweet, smoky flavor that complements the other Southwestern perfectly.

Nutrition

Calories: 560kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 14gFat: 29g

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!