This fun and delicious pasta salad recipe combines fresh veggies, crunchy seeds, tangy fruit, and tender pasta with a savory teriyaki dressing.
Spinach Pasta Salad
Ingredients
DRESSING
2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce
2 Tablespoons vinegar (white, rice or cider)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon each salt and pepper
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
SALAD
2 cups cooked pasta (try whole wheat shells, bow ties, macaroni or other small shapes)
4 cups fresh spinach
¼ cup dried cranberries
2 Tablespoons sunflower seed kernels
1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- In a large bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients.
- Add the salad ingredients. Mix well. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Try using ⅓ cup prepared sesame or ginger salad dressing from the store to replace the dressing ingredients.
You might also like...
Coconut Chicken Salad
Coconut Chicken Salad
This simple and fresh-tasting chicken salad is our version of chicken kelaguen, a favorite recipe from Micronesia. Enjoy the blend of crisp vegetables, chicken, coconut, hot peppers and fresh lemon. Excellent the next day, too!
Prepare:
20 to 30 minutes
Makes:
5 cups
Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
Roasted snap peas with savory soy make this 5 ingredient recipe a tasty and satisfying side dish or snack.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Baked Bean Medley
Baked Bean Medley
Enjoy this delicious blend of beans and a savory sauce, baked to blend the lightly sweet and salty flavors.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
1 and ½ hours
Makes:
8 Cups
Personal Salad in a Bag
Personal Salad in a Bag
A customizable salad in a bag that is perfect for a simple lunch. Add your favorite vegetables and salad dressings to make a fast and easy meal.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Autumn Squash Bisque with Ginger
Autumn Squash Bisque with Ginger
Delicious soup seasoned with ginger, thyme and pear that’s easy and quick to make for lunch or dinner. Freezes well.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
10 cups
Comments
We make this with our 5th grade classes and they love it. One suggestion they always have, though, is less vinegar. I do usually use a lot less than what the recipe calls for since the first time I made it, the majority of the class said it had too much and didn't like. Once we cut the vinegar back to 1 TBSP, they all give me the thumbs up.
Kamut works very nicely as a substitute for the pasta in this recipe. It's hearty and chewy texture holds up well and takes care of the "squishy" problem noted in the previous review.
Made this recipe for our office staff for lunch. Got really good feedback and everyone seemed to really like the dressing. However, I think if I made it again I would not do substitute quinoa for the pasta. I just felt like the texture of the cooked macaroni combined with the texture of the spinach made the salad a bit "squishy."
A coworker also suggested adding some chopped chicken as well, but I think it was fine without it.