Welcome to the April 2023 edition of the Fit Foodie Cooking Club. This month we’re featuring one of our favorite spring recipes — Street Corn Pasta Salad — a bright, creamy, Mexican-inspired pasta salad that blends the flavors of elote with a crowd-pleasing pasta salad.
What is Fit Foodie Cooking Club?
The Fit Foodie Cooking Club is a monthly cooking challenge designed to inspire home cooks to prepare recipes from scratch and share their results. Each month our community makes the same recipe so we can celebrate real food together and swap tips, photos, and feedback.
Join the Club!
Fit Foodie Cooking Club
Sign up to get the recipe of the month and Fit Foodie Cooking Club updates delivered to your inbox. You’ll receive the monthly challenge details, tips, and reminders so you don’t miss a chance to participate.
April 2023 – The Details
Please read the details below carefully so your entry is eligible. If you have questions, leave them in the comments of this post.
Recipe of the Month: Street Corn Pasta Salad
This Mexican-inspired Street Corn Pasta Salad combines the charred-sweet notes of elote with creamy, tangy dressing and bite-sized pasta. It’s perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or weeknight dinners — flavorful, simple to prepare, and easy to scale for a crowd.
Why you’ll love it!
Makes a generous batch for sharing
Bold, balanced flavor with charred corn and lime
Quick and simple to assemble
Vegetarian-friendly, with optional protein additions
All About Street Corn Pasta Salad
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pasta: Choose shorter, bite-sized shapes like shells, rotini, or penne for the best texture in a pasta salad.
- Corn: Corn is the centerpiece — grilled, roasted, or simply sautéed until slightly charred.
- Bell pepper: Any color works; diced for color and crunch.
- Greek yogurt: Use plain Greek yogurt for a thick, creamy base in the dressing.
- Sour cream: Adds tang and richness to balance the yogurt.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime brightens and lifts the flavors.
- Red onion: Finely minced for a little bite without overpowering the salad.
- Spices: A mix of chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper brings the elote-inspired flavor.
Types of Corn You Can Use
Frozen corn: The most convenient option — thaw and sauté or roast briefly to develop flavor.
Grilled corn: Fresh grilled corn on the cob gives the best smoky, charred flavor if you have the time and access to a grill.
Canned corn: A pantry-friendly fallback — drain and rinse well before using.
Tools You’ll Need
Common kitchen tools make this recipe easy: a large pot for pasta, a skillet or grill pan for corn, a large mixing bowl to combine ingredients, a colander, and measuring cups and spoons. A cutting board and sharp knife for veggies will speed prep.
A Few Tips
Add a protein: Turn this salad into a complete meal by folding in cooked proteins like grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak.
- Grilled chicken
- Grilled shrimp
- Grilled steak
Boost the veggies: Add diced tomato, green onion, black beans, hominy, or jalapeño for extra color and texture.
Swap the pasta: Use whatever short pasta you have on hand — shells, rotini, or small penne all work well.
How to Enter
Once you’ve made the recipe, submit your entry by following these steps.
- Visit the Street Corn Pasta Salad blog post for the full recipe.
- Make the recipe and take a clear photo of your finished dish.
- Leave a comment on the Street Corn Pasta Salad post with your photo and a brief note about how it turned out. A star rating is appreciated but optional. Include your name and email in the comment form so we can contact winners if you’re selected.
Join the Fit Foodie Cooking Club on Facebook!
Share your photos and connect with other members in our free Facebook group for the Fit Foodie Cooking Club. It’s a friendly place to swap tips, celebrate successes, and get inspired by other cooks.
Important Dates
Sunday, April 2, 2023 – First day to submit an entry.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – Last day to submit your photo and comment.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – Winners will be randomly selected and announced in this blog post and on social media.
The Prize
Two participants will each win a $100 lululemon gift card. Winners will be chosen at random from eligible comments submitted between April 2 and April 25, 2023, and announced on the final Wednesday of the month (April 26, 2023).
Charity of the Month
Each month we support a different charity. For April, we’re donating to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an organization focused on treatment and recovery support for people affected by substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation provides comprehensive behavioral health care and works to reduce stigma and improve access to treatment for individuals and families affected by addiction.
Donate
If you’d like to support the charity of the month, please consider donating to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Any contribution helps further their mission of healing and recovery.