Mandarin Pasta Salad

Name: Mandarin Pasta Salad
Prep time: 1 h 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 20 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: ***For the dressing:***; 1/3 cup rice vinegar; 1/4 cup orange juice; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ***For the pasta salad:***; 8 ounces rotini pasta, cooked and drained; 1 cup cucumber, peeled and cubed; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1/4 red onion, minced; 1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups chicken breast, cooked and diced; 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin orange segments, drained, for topping; 1/2 cup almonds, sliced and toasted, for topping

Chicken Prep-Ahead Savory

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

About

If you're serving up teriyaki at your next barbecue, you'll need a side with flavors that will pair well with that distinct, Asian-inspired flavor... and not just pair with it, but bring out the best of it! Mandarin Pasta Salad replaces the traditional mayo with a sweet, tart, fragrant mandarin dressing that coats every bite of the bouncy rotini pasta. In fact, Mandarin Pasta Salad brings the whole stir-fry experience with crisp bell peppers and savory chicken cubes, with a topping of juicy oranges and crunchy almonds to bring new energy to the picnic favorite. On second thought, you don't need teriyaki to enjoy this new take on pasta salad; it goes just as well with regular burgers and sausages since it's just that good.

Ingredients

For the dressing:
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
For the pasta salad:
8 ounces rotini pasta, cooked and drained
1 cup cucumber, peeled and cubed
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 red onion, minced
1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chicken breast, cooked and diced
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin orange segments, drained, for topping
1/2 cup almonds, sliced and toasted, for topping

Directions

Step 1 -Whisk together the rice vinegar, the orange juice, the vegetable oil, the sesame oil, the sugar, the ground ginger, the garlic powder, and the onion powder until smooth.

Step 2 -In a large bowl, add the pasta, the cucumbers, the bell peppers, the onions, the carrot, the garlic, and the chicken.

Step 3 -Toss the pasta mixture with the dressing until well-coated.

Step 4 -Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving.

Step 5 -Top with the mandarin oranges and the almonds.

Step 6 -Serve.

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