Asian Chicken Pasta Salad

This is a great pasta salad anytime but I especially love taking it to potlucks because it has flavors most people enjoy - chicken, pasta, and sesame dressing. I recently took it to a Relief Society lunch activity. If I was serving this salad for dinner I would make these orange rolls to go with it and it would be a yummy meal.

Asian Chicken Pasta Salad

Salad:
16 oz bow tie pasta
4 cups cooked and cubed grilled chicken
4 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 bag baby spinach (I used a baby greens blend)
1/4 lb or 4 oz snow peas, stems removed and cut in half
1 can mandarin oranges, drained (I might add 2 cans next time)

Dressing:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted (toast in a dry skillet until slightly browned)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cook bow tie pasta according to package directions. Drain. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and allow to dry slightly in colander while you prepare other salad ingredients.

In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine soy sauce, vegetable oil, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, sugar, and pepper. Place lid on jar and shake very well to combine.

In a large bowl combine drained and rinsed pasta, chicken, sliced green onions, almonds, spinach, and snow peas. Add dressing and toss to combine. Add drained mandarin oranges and stir in gently. Serve immediately.