Corn Pasta Salad Bacon Pesto (Printable Version)

Orecchiette, crisp bacon, fresh corn, and herby pesto create a vibrant pasta dish ideal for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta Salad

01 - 225 g orecchiette pasta or other short pasta
02 - 160 g cooked corn kernels
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 4 slices bacon, cooked and sliced
05 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - Salt, to taste
07 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Creamy Pesto Dressing

08 - 80 ml basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
09 - 45 g Greek yogurt
10 - 30 g mayonnaise
11 - 30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
02 - In a mason jar or small bowl, whisk together basil pesto, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and freshly squeezed lime juice until fully combined. Adjust consistency with a little extra Greek yogurt, a small amount of water, or more citrus juice if needed.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, and sliced cooked bacon. Gently mix to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - Distribute the pasta salad into individual serving bowls. Drizzle with creamy pesto dressing and garnish generously with chopped fresh cilantro.

# Additional Notes:

01 - Use freshly cooked corn sliced from two ears for the sweetest flavor, or substitute with high-quality frozen kernels if fresh is unavailable.
02 - Orecchiette, fusilli, or farfalle all provide a great texture for holding the dressing and mix-ins.