Oriental Pasta Salad

Elevate your salad game with this vibrant and flavor-packed Oriental Pasta Salad, a refreshing fusion of Asian-inspired ingredients and classic pasta. Perfectly al dente fusilli or spaghetti serves as the base, tossed with crisp matchstick carrots, tangy red bell peppers, cooling cucumber, fresh green onions, and fragrant cilantro. The star of the show is the bold, umami-rich dressing made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, freshly grated ginger, and a hint of garlic, with a touch of chili flakes for a gentle kick. Finished with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, this quick and easy recipe is ready in just 25 minutes and can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature. Ideal as a side dish, potluck favorite, or even a light meal, this salad brings irresistible Asian-inspired flavors straight to your table!

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 300 grams pasta (fusilli or spaghetti)
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium cucumber
• 2 stalks green onion (scallion)
• 2 tablespoons cilantro
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1.5 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon ginger (freshly grated)
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.5 teaspoons chili flakes

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Step 2

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 3

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Peel the carrot and cut it into thin matchsticks. Slice the red bell pepper and cucumber into thin strips or julienne cuts. Chop the green onion into thin rounds and roughly chop the cilantro.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, and chili flakes to make the dressing.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta with the prepared vegetables and cilantro.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, then toss gently to evenly coat everything.

Step 7

Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on top and give it one final toss.

Step 8

Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 9

Serve the Oriental Pasta Salad cold or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	874.9 grams (874.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1030

Total Fat 38.60g	49%
Saturated Fat 5.70g	29%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11.80g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1786mg	78%
Total Carbohydrate 148.10g	54%
Dietary Fiber 13.90g	50%
Total Sugars 40.10g
Protein 28.40g	57%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 252mg	19%
Iron 6mg	34%
Potassium 1201mg	26%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 33.0%

Protein: 10.8%

Carbs: 56.2%