Chili-lime Spring Vegetable Pasta Salad

Holy moly, how is it already halfway through the month of May?

I feel like I blinked and missed half a month.

And….I kind of did. Our little baby boy was born on Monday, May 4, so things have been a bit of a blur since then! He’s doing  great – sleeping fairly well during the night – and is super cuddly, which we love.

chili lime pasta salad

So now, even more than ever, simple meals are taking over! But not just simple. Healthy.

I’ve got to keep up my energy for when he’s awake and I’m awake and eat more whole foods, whole grains, and high fiber items that keep me going! Lots of oatmeal, lots of pasta with veggies, lots of salads. It’s a good combo so far, and this pasta salad might be one of my favorite new dishes that we’ve had lately.

I love a good pasta salad, but I tend to make the same ones over and over. This one, however, is definitely different than my normal mix. It’s full of great spring and summer veggies, but with a little twist in flavor.

This time of year, asparagus is super sweet, so I balanced that out with some peppery radishes and a chili-lime seasoning to brighten everything up and add a little kick. If you want even more kick, feel free to add a few dashes of hot sauce.

chili lime pasta salad

Nick and I have tried a lot of pastas over the years, and I think we’ve pretty much settled on Dreamfields as our favorite. It cooks up perfectly tender each time, plus it’s higher in fiber and protein than your typical pasta, meaning it’s even more filling and it makes it easy to eat a little bit better without making major changes. You can make all your favorite pasta dishes using Dreamfields, they’ll be delicious – as always – and you’ll end up with a little boost in your dish. Easy!

Now….what pasta dish should we make next? Easy is best! I’ll take all the suggestions I can get!

chili lime pasta salad

Chili-lime Spring Vegetable Pasta Salad

This isn't your typical pasta salad. There is no bottled dressing or veggie spirals or sliced olives. This pasta salad is exactly what you need this spring, to celebrate the return of asparagus! The sweetness of the asparagus and corn is balanced out with some lime zest, lime juice, and a little chili powder for some kick. Feel free to toss in any other veggies you have on hand, too! Any kind of bean would be great, or you could add meat to the pasta salad to make it a one-bowl meal.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. Dreamfields Rotini
  • 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup frozen or fresh corn kernals
  • 4 tsp olive oil, divided
  • 2 tsp fresh lime zest
  • 2 tsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 tsp ancho chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
  • 1/3 cup sliced green onions
  • 1/3 cup sliced radishes

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Cook the pasta according to the directions; drain, place in a large bowl, and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, place asparagus and corn on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tsp of the olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, ancho chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast the vegetables 12-15 minutes or until tender.
  4. Toss the pasta with the remaining olive oil. Gently toss pasta with the tomatoes, green onions, and radishes. Stir in the corn and asparagus.
  5. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled.

Nutrition information (1/4 of recipe): 290 calories; 10 g protein; 54 g carbohydrates; 6 g total fat; 1 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 190 mg sodium; 8 g total dietary fiber.

I’m part of the Dreamfields DreamTeam and was compensated for this post. All recipes and opinions are my own, as always. Thank you for supporting brands that support us!