Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

By á-46

"An easy pasta chicken salad showcases Asian flavors with mandarin oranges, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil."

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped, peeled
• fresh ginger
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion
• soup mix
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 1 (8 ounce) package bow tie
• (farfalle) pasta
• 1/2 cucumber - scored, halved
• lengthwise, seeded, and sliced
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped red
• onion
• 2 diced Roma tomatoes
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 (6 ounce) bag fresh spinach
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange
• segments, drained
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Preparation

Step 1

1. To make the dressing, whisk together the ginger root, rice vinegar, orange juice, vegetable oil, sesame oil, soup mix, sugar, and garlic until well blended. Cover, and refrigerate until needed.

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, and rinse under cold water. Place pasta in a large bowl.

3. To make the salad, toss the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, carrot, spinach, mandarin oranges, chicken, and almonds with the pasta. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture, and toss again to coat evenly. Serve immediately.