1-First Step: Whip Up the Dressing Grab a jar with a tight lid. Toss in 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon garlic paste, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Shake hard for 30 seconds until it emulsifies. Taste and tweak salt or pepper. Pop it in the fridge to chill while you cook. Pro tip: Make this ahead. Flavors get better overnight!

2-Second Step: Boil the Pasta and Corn Fill a big pot with 12 cups water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Add 1 tbsp salt, then dump in 2 cups uncooked pasta. Cook per package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes for al dente. One minute before it’s done, stir in 1-1/2 cups frozen corn. This quick cooks the corn perfectly without mush. Drain everything in a colander. Rinse under cold water for 30 seconds to stop cooking and cool it fast. Shake off excess water. Pasta should feel firm, not sticky.

3-Third Step: Dress and Chill the Pasta Base Put the cooled pasta and corn in a large bowl. Pour 1/3 cup of the chilled dressing over it. Toss gently to coat every piece. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. This step lets flavors soak in and pasta chill fully. No warm pasta sogginess here! If you’re in a rush, 15 minutes works, but cooler is better.

4-Fourth Step: Chop and Add the Veggies and Beans While pasta chills, dice 2 bell peppers (1 red, 1 green) into 1/4-inch pieces for even bites. Finely dice 3/4 cup red onion. Chop 1 bunch cilantro fine, aiming for 1 cup. Drain and rinse 1 can black beans and 1 can black-eyed peas under cold water. Pat dry if watery. Once pasta’s cool, add all these to the bowl. Drizzle remaining dressing over top. Start with half, toss gently with a big spoon or your hands (clean!). Taste. Add more dressing if needed. Adjust salt and pepper. Done!

5-Final Step: Serve and Enjoy Scoop into a pretty bowl. Garnish with extra cilantro if you like. Serve chilled. Pairs great with burgers or grilled chicken. Total time: 1 hour 9 minutes. Serves 8 as a side.