Recipe for the day ~ Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1 tspn finely chopped, peeled fresh ginger

1/3 tspn rice vinegar

¼ cup orange juice

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 tspn toasted sesame oil

1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix

2 tspn 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

Directions:

To make 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

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil

Add the bowtie pasta

Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente

Rinse under cold water

Place pasta in a large bowl

To make salad, toss the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, mandarin oranges, chicken and almonds with the pasta

Pour dressing over the salad mixture and toss again to coat evenly

Serve immediately