Chicken Ginger Peanut Pasta Salad (meatless)

Portion Size: 1 ½ cups

Ingredients: Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients Notes: 
1lb. package corkscrew, macaroni, or angel hair pastaFor vegan: use vegan pasta
1 cup pea podsWashed with tips and stems removed.
2 1/2 pounds Meatless chicken, cut up into bite size pieces
¼ cup salad oil
¼ cup rice vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon chili oil or dash of hot pepper sauceOptional
1 large cucumberWashed and quartered lengthwise and sliced.
3 large carrots Washed and cut into long thin strips.
1 large yellow or red sweet pepper Washed and cut into thin strips.
½ cup green onions Washed and sliced, including tops.
2 tablespoons cilantro or parsley
1/3 cup chopped unsalted peanuts

Directions:

Steps:Directions: CCP/Quality Assurance
1Cook pasta according to package. During the last 30 seconds of cooking time, add pea pods.
2Drain. Rinse with cold water.
3Combine salad oil, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, ginger and chili sauce.  Mix well.
4In a large bowl combine pasta, pea pods, chicken, cucumber, carrots, sweet pepper, green onion and parsley or cilantro.
5Add dressing and toss to gently coat.  Cover and chill for 2 to 8 hours.
6To serve toss the salad again and sprinkle with peanuts.

Jacqueline Larson M.S., R.D.N. and Associates