Samantha Nicole 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.
