Asian Pasta Salad
Asian Pasta Salad packs crisp veggies, juicy mandarins, and a sesame-soy dressing worth obsessing over!
Servings: 8 servings
Cost: $6.23
Equipment
- Wide-mouth Mason Jar
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package rotini pasta or Fusilli Bucati pasta
- 4-1/2 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach optional, see note 1
- 1-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can mandarin oranges well-drained
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds optionally toast them, see note 2
Dressing
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Dressing: Add all dressing ingredients to a jar. Secure the lid and shake well until combined.
- Bring 12 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt, then pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water for 20 seconds, and shake off any excess water. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Shake dressing again and pour about ⅓ of it over the pasta. Toss to coat. Refrigerate the pasta until fully cooled.
- Add spinach, chicken, red pepper, mandarin oranges, carrots, green onions, and cilantro to the cooled pasta. Gently toss everything together.
- Add more dressing as needed (you might not need it all right away; the pasta absorbs it as it sits, so add gradually as needed). Top with toasted almonds, if using. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Note 1: Spinach wilts quickly once dressed. Leave it out if meal prepping, or add to individual servings just before eating.
Note 2: To toast: Add sliced almonds to a dry pan over medium heat. Stir frequently until fragrant and lightly golden. Watch carefully—almonds burn fast! Transfer to a plate to cool.
Storage: This salad is best the day it’s made. To enjoy it all week, store salad and dressing separately and toss together right before eating. Leave out the spinach until serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 20.2g | Protein: 26.4g | Fat: 29.3g | Sodium: 500.8mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 9.4g