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Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad with Ginger Dressing
This sesame chicken pasta salad offers a straightforward solution for a quick and satisfying lunch. It combines farfalle pasta and cooked chicken with crisp romaine, sweet mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds, and fresh herbs, all brought together by a vibrant ginger dressing.
Designed to be assembled in about 30 minutes, this cold pasta salad is practical for busy weekdays. It makes good use of readily available ingredients, ensuring you can put together a flavorful meal without extensive cooking or preparation.
What Goes In It
The ingredients for this cold lunch pasta salad are selected for a balance of textures and flavors, focusing on convenience and a fresh profile. From the main components to the signature ginger dressing, each element contributes to the overall dish.
For the salad base, you will need:
- 6 ounces farfalle pasta
- 12–14 ounces cooked diced chicken, about 1 3/4 cups
- 4 cups romaine salad mix
- 1 15-ounce can mandarin oranges
- 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup chopped scallions
- Wonton strips or chow mein noodles for crunch
The ginger dressing brings a bright, aromatic quality. Gather these dressing ingredients:
- 1–2 small cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ginger paste
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2–3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup clear flavorless oil
How to Make It
Assembling this chicken pasta salad is a smooth process designed for efficiency. With most ingredients requiring minimal prep, the focus is on combining everything for a cohesive dish. The dressing is particularly easy to prepare, made quickly in a mason jar.
- Begin by boiling the farfalle pasta according to the instructions on its package. Once cooked, drain it and set it aside to cool.
- While the pasta cools, combine the romaine salad mix in a large bowl.
- Add the cooled, cooked pasta to the romaine.
- Stir in the cooked diced chicken.
- Drain the mandarin oranges and add them to the bowl.
- Incorporate the toasted sliced almonds, chopped cilantro, and chopped scallions into the salad mixture.
- Prepare the ginger dressing: combine the garlic, ginger paste, rice vinegar, low sodium soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, granulated sugar, and clear flavorless oil in a mason jar.
- Secure the lid on the mason jar.
- Shake the jar vigorously until all the dressing ingredients are well combined and emulsified.
- Pour your desired amount of dressing over the salad components in the large bowl and toss gently to combine.
- Just before serving, or when ready to pack, sprinkle the salad with wonton strips or chow mein noodles to add a satisfying crunch.
Balance the Dressing
The homemade ginger dressing is a key component, offering a customizable flavor profile that can be adjusted to your preference. Made simply in a mason jar dressing method, it’s all about getting the right balance to complement the other salad ingredients.
The core of this dressing includes garlic, ginger paste, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds, all contributing to its distinctive Asian-inspired notes. The addition of granulated sugar provides a touch of sweetness that balances the savory and tangy elements.
The amount of low sodium soy sauce you use can steer the dressing’s final taste. For a sweeter dressing that slightly emphasizes the mandarin oranges, use 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. If you prefer a more robust and balanced flavor that highlights the savory notes, opt for 3 tablespoons of soy sauce. This flexibility allows you to tailor the dressing to your palate without needing to introduce new ingredients or complex ratios.
Keep the Crunch
Texture plays an important role in making this cold pasta salad satisfying. The combination of soft pasta, tender chicken, and crisp romaine is enhanced by a few strategic additions that provide a pleasing contrast with every bite.
Toasted sliced almonds are integral here, distributed throughout the salad to provide a gentle, nutty crunch. They contribute not only to the texture but also to the overall flavor profile. For the final layer of texture, wonton strips or chow mein noodles are added as a topping. These provide a distinct, crisp element that makes the dish more engaging. Adding them just before serving or eating helps maintain their optimal crispness, preventing them from becoming soggy when mixed with the dressing.
About the Chicken
This recipe is designed for convenience, primarily utilizing cooked diced chicken. This approach saves time and streamlines the preparation process, making the sesame chicken pasta salad a quick option for any meal. The recipe specifies 12–14 ounces, which is roughly 1 3/4 cups of cooked chicken.
However, if you prefer to grill your own chicken for this dish, there’s a supported method to ensure it integrates seamlessly. For grilling, prepare a simple marinade with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil. Allow the chicken to marinate for approximately 20 minutes to absorb these flavors.
After marinating, grill the chicken until it is fully cooked. It’s important to let the grilled chicken rest at room temperature for a few minutes before dicing it. This resting period helps keep the chicken juicy, ensuring it remains tender when added to the salad.
Freshness Notes
When preparing this pasta salad lunch, keeping freshness in mind helps maintain its appeal. While the recipe is straightforward, specific storage and reheating details are not provided for the assembled salad, so it is best enjoyed fresh or soon after preparation to preserve optimal texture. The crispness of components like romaine, toasted nuts, and especially the wonton strips or chow mein noodles is best when they are added closer to the time of serving.
To help maintain the texture, consider adding the dressing and crunchy toppings just before eating. This prevents the crispy elements from softening too quickly when exposed to moisture. No specific fridge storage duration or freezing instructions are provided, so it is not intended as a long-term meal prep recipe where a precise shelf life is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pre-cooked chicken?
Yes, the recipe is specifically designed to use 12–14 ounces (about 1 3/4 cups) of cooked diced chicken, making it a convenient option for quick assembly. This helps to keep the total preparation time to about 30 minutes.
What does the soy sauce amount change in the dressing?
Using 2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce results in a sweeter ginger dressing, while 3 tablespoons creates a more balanced flavor profile. This allows you to adjust the dressing to your personal preference for sweetness and savory notes.
Can I grill my own chicken for this salad?
You can grill your own chicken. Marinate it for about 20 minutes in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and sesame oil. After grilling, let it rest for a few minutes before dicing to keep it tender.
Should I use wonton strips or chow mein noodles?
Either wonton strips or chow mein noodles work well for adding crunch to this lunch meal prep idea. Choose the one you prefer for texture and flavor. Make sure to add them right before serving to maintain their crispness.
How much dressing should I add?
Dress the salad with the desired amount of dressing, tossing gently to combine. It’s best to start with a smaller amount and add more as needed to ensure the salad is coated to your liking without becoming overly saturated.
Conclusion
This Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad with Ginger Dressing provides a practical and flavorful option for a quick meal. Its combination of farfalle pasta, tender cooked chicken, crisp romaine, sweet mandarin oranges, and the unique ginger dressing makes it a well-rounded dish. With the added crunch from wonton strips and toasted almonds, it offers a satisfying eating experience that is easy to prepare and enjoy.
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Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad with Ginger Dressing
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 6 servings
- Diet: Contains chicken
Description
A quick and satisfying lunch combining farfalle pasta, tender chicken, crisp romaine, mandarin oranges, and toasted almonds with a zesty ginger dressing for a fresh, balanced meal ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
6 ounces farfalle pasta
12–14 ounces cooked diced chicken (about 1 3/4 cups)
4 cups romaine salad mix
1 15-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
1 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup chopped scallions
Wonton strips or chow mein noodles (for crunch)
1–2 small cloves garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons ginger paste
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2–3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup clear flavorless oil
Instructions
Boil farfalle pasta according to package instructions, drain, and set aside to cool.
Combine romaine salad mix in a large bowl.
Add cooled pasta to the romaine.
Stir in cooked diced chicken.
Drain mandarin oranges and add them to the bowl.
Incorporate toast almonds, cilantro, and scallions.
In a mason jar, combine garlic, ginger paste, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sugar, and oil.
Secure the jar lid and shake vigorously until dressing is emulsified.
Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
Add wonton strips or chow mein noodles just before serving for crunch.
Notes
For best texture, prepare pasta and chicken ahead but dress salad just before serving.
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Toss with dressing before reheating.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
