Mandarin Pasta Salad
Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook
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I developed this recipe when I was asked to bring a salad to a birthday party for my husband's grandfather. Guests raved about my creative dish!
—Kathleen Dougherty, Williamsville, Illinois
SERVINGS: 20-25
CATEGORY: Salads
METHOD: Other stovetop
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 25 min.
Ingredients:
- 1 package (1 pound) angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti, broken into thirds
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1-1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
- 2 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges
- 1 package (6 ounces) frozen snow peas, thawed and drained
- 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 2 bunches green onions, sliced
- DRESSING:
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water; set aside. In a large skillet, saute chicken and garlic in butter until chicken juices run clear; sprinkle with seasoned salt. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside.
In the same skillet, saute water chestnuts for 2-3 minutes. Drain oranges, reserve 1/2 cup juice. In a large serving bowl, combine oranges, pasta, chicken, water chestnuts, peas, mushrooms, carrots and onions.
In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, sugar, honey, ginger and reserved mandarin orange juice; shake well. Pour over pasta mixture and toss. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 20-25 servings.