Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

Healthy Lunch - Lunch

I had this at a party and couldn't get it off my mind. It's a fruity Asian chicken salad that even my family's picky eaters enjoy. I bake my own chicken for more flavor, which adds to the prep time, but pre-cooked or canned chicken will also work just fine.

Brief

Prep 45 mins

Cook: 8 mins

Total: 53 mins

Servings: 6

Yield: 6 servings

Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1 teaspoon finely chopped

peeled fresh ginger

⅓ cup rice vinegar

¼ cup orange juice

¼ 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

½ cucumber - scored

halved lengthwise

seeded

and sliced

½ cup diced red bell pepper

½ 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

½ cup sliced almonds

toasted

Taco Slaw

Lunch

Directions

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Nutritional Information

Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

Servings Per Recipe:6

Calories: 425.2

% Daily Value *

Protein: 21.8g 44%

Carbohydrates: 44.7g 14%

Dietary Fiber: 4.5g 18%

Sugars: 11.1g

Fat: 18.9g 29%

Saturated Fat: 3.1g 16%

Cholesterol: 35mg 12%

Vitamin A Iu: 5438.2IU 109%

Niacin Equivalents: 10.2mg 79%

Vitamin B6: 0.4mg 23%

Vitamin C: 51.9mg 86%

Folate: 153.5mcg 38%

Calcium: 87.2mg 9%

Iron: 3.1mg 17%

Magnesium: 88.4mg 32%

Potassium: 623.4mg 18%

Sodium: 357.7mg 14%

Thiamin: 0.2mg 24%

Calories From Fat: 169.9

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.