Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad is a fun update on a classic pasta salad featuring smoked corn, bacon, and avocado all tied together with a zesty Avocado Cilantro Dressing.
Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad
The salads of summer have a new flavour and it’s smoked corn! Smoked right on the cob, the sweet and smoky flavour pairs so well with bacon and creamy avocado cilantro dressing. This pasta salad is perfect as a side for sunny barbecues, or stands as a meal on it’s own. One spoonful is never enough!
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Thinking about what to serve with this salad at your next barbecue? I think it would pair nicely with Simple Grilled Rosemary Beef Kabobs and some chilled Berry Rosé Sangria.
Today I wanted to share this amazing Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad with you. I’ve made many corn salads of different variations but this one has the most amazing flavours of them all. The boys were really impressed and quite enthusiastic about the salad, especially the bacon. Don’t all the best salads contain bacon?
How to Smoke the Corn
For this salad you really only need two cobs of smoked corn. If you already have plans to smoke dinner, why not throw some cobs of corn on at the same time? I like to smoke half a dozen cobs so that we can have smoked corn with our dinner plus a few extra to make this salad the next day.
Smoking corn is quite easy to do: Place 2-6 shucked cobs of corn in a charcoal smoker. Smoke for an hour at 275 F using apple wood chips. Char on direct grill for a few minutes. Cool, then remove the corn from the cob with a knife or corn stripper.
The smoky flavour of the corn really sets this salad apart from other corn salads. However if you don’t have a smoker, go ahead and used grilled or even steamed corn. You’ll still have the sweetness of the corn and the smoky flavour of the bacon.
Making the Salad
While the corn is smoking, fry up 5-6 slices of bacon. How crispy do you like your bacon? I’m partial to that very fine line between chewy and crispy and I have to keep a close eye while the bacon fries! Once it’s done frying, cool it and chop it up into small pieces.
Next, prepare the pasta according to the package directions. For this salad I chose Pearl Couscous (or Israeli Couscous). I love the little balls of pasta and how they blend with the ingredients. For this salad you could also use any other small pasta shape including macaroni, orzo, orecchiette, or ditalini.
While the pasta is boiling, make the avocado cilantro dressing in a blender. I’ve used the cilantro stems but feel free to use leaves or roots as well. It’s all edible!
This dressing is so easy, just place all ingredients in a blender and blend together. Add more or less whipping cream to achieve desired consistency. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper. You’ll find that there is leftover dressing and that is a good thing! We had it the next day on pork tacos and it was amazing!
Finally, chop up the grape tomatoes and dice the avocados (if using). Place all the veggies in a bowl with the cooled pasta and bacon and pour the dressing over all. Gently mix to combine and garnish with chopped chives or green onions.
How to Store Smoke Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad
Once refrigerated, this salad will last for up to four days. As it contains whipping cream, it must not be left out at room temperature (or higher) for extended periods of time.
For picnics or barbecues, be sure to store the Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad with plenty of ice and toss any leftovers. This recipe does not freeze well.
Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad
Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta salad is a fun update on a classic pasta salad featuring smoked corn, bacon, and avocado all tied together with a zesty Avocado Cilantro Dressing.
Ingredients
- 2 cups smoked corn
- 1 cup bacon bits (crumbled bacon)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes; quartered
- 2 cups cooked pasta (any small size will do, I used Israeli Couscous)
- 2 tbsp finely chopped chives
- 1/2 avocado; chopped (optional)
Avocado Cilantro Dressing
- 1/2 avocado
- handful fresh cilantro stems
- 1 clove garlic; minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 cup whipping cream
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- To Smoke Corn: Place 2 shucked cobs of corn in a charcoal smoker. Smoke for an hour at 275 F. using applewood chips. Char on direct grill for a few minutes. Cool. (I always just add two extra cobs when we are making smoked corn as a side.)
- Once the corn has cooled, use a sharp knife to slice off the kernels into a bowl.
- Add the remainder of the salad ingredients to the bowl (except avocado).
- Make the Avocado Cilantro Dressing. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend together. Add more or less whipping cream to achieve desired consistency. Season to taste.
- Pour half of the dressing over the salad ingredients. Mix well. Add more dressing if needed.
- Finish by gently mixing in diced avocados (if using) and topping with chopped chives.
- Avocado Cilantro Dressing is also delicious as a sandwich spread, on tacos, or as dip for chicken.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 300Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 553mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 5gSugar: 3gProtein: 9g
Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.
I will definitely remember this for those summer cookouts. This looks really good!
It’s a keeper! And the cilantro avocado dressing can be used in other dishes too.
Ok this pasta salad is just what I was looking for! It looks soo delicious and I love how easy it is to make.
Great to hear Sam, enjoy!
This Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad is making me hungry… I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol!
oh, it’s a good one!! I hope you fill that tummy soon.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a summer side dish look as dreamy as this! WOW!!! This looks Divine!
Thank you Leslie. It’s a stunner!
love adding corn to my salad!! perfect summer dinner / lunch idea!!
It’s a great salad for both meals. Can’t wait for the fresh local corn to arrive.
Anything pasta is my family favorite. To top it all the combination in this pasta salad is to die for. Love it.
Thank you Gunjan, I hope you all enjoy the salad soon!
I love anything on this plate! so festive this summer, can’t wait to try it soon
It’s the perfect summer side. Thanks for dropping by Citra.
You know when you’re at a barbecue and you load up your plate only to realize that you haven’t left enough room for the side dish you really want? Yeah, I’d need a second plate for this. Perfect combination of flavours, and I love that you went with avocado for that creamy element here. Amazing choice, and one that I could see being used in a bunch of related recipes too. Awesome stuff Bernice!
Yes, I know the feeling…that’s what second helpings are for! I have done something similar before a creamy avocado pasta sauce. So good!
This looks SO good. I love the idea of smoking corn – really nice twist on a classic summer salad.
It’s really easy to throw some cobs on the smoker when we’re doing the meat! I always add a few extra for salad.
This dish had the most incredible flavors! My whole family loved it. Thanks so much for sharing!
So glad they enjoyed!!
These look yummy! The smoky bacon and sweet corn are a great flavor combo. This was so good! Thanks for the yummy recipe.
It is one of my favourite combos for sure!!
Oh yum I love anything smoked! Paired with the bacon this sounds amazing! Pinned for later.
mmmm me too. I’m hoping for more sun this weekend so we can smoke!!
I’m so excited to ears of sweet corn in my grocery store! The smoky bacon and sweet corn are a great flavor combo.
Yes!! Corn season is the best! It’s going to be a while for us but we do get some imported from the US starting around now.