Savory and sweet, this Asian pasta salad recipe is a little bit of pasta with a ton of vegetables, dressed in a tangy teriyaki dressing, topped with mandarin oranges, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Make Asian pasta salad and eat it all week long.
Are you looking for a quick and easy cold Asian noodle salad? Then, this Asian pasta salad recipe is for you. While meal planning this week, I decided to make a cold pasta salad to enjoy throughout the week. Not only is this Asian-style salad easy to make, but this Asian pasta salad is full of fresh veggies and deep flavor. So if you're looking for a healthy and flavorful Asian pasta salad recipe with yummy teriyaki salad dressing, look no further.
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I love kale not only because of its nutritional value but also because it maintains its firmness, even after being dressed. And, for those who avoid pasta, this Asian pasta salad recipe contains very little pasta, so relax if you are worried about carbs. An Asian pasta salad like this retains flavor from all the different ingredients and the delicious teriyaki dressing.
Although the main elements of the salad are vegetable-based, the mandarin organs bring this dish together. Visually it looks beautiful!
Asian Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Bowtie Pasta: I chose whole-grain bowtie pasta for this Asian pasta salad recipe.
- Kale: kale is hearty and stays firm and delicious when dressed ahead of time.
- White Cabbage: Cabbage is very low in calories and extremely nutritious. It hold up well when dressed in a salad.
- Purple Cabbage: Purple cabbage or red cabbage is similar to white cabbage in texture and nutrition.
- Mame (shelled Edamame): Mame is an edamame that is already shelled. It is available in the produce section or the freezer section of the grocery store.
- Red Bell Peppers: Red bell peppers are sweet and vibrant in this Asian pasta salad.
- Green Onions: Scallions and green onions are the same types of onions, just sold under different names. Both are part of the genus Allium family (which includes other greens like leeks, garlic, onions, and shallots), and you can use scallions in recipes that call for green onions and vice versa.
- Seaweed: Seaweed is rich in various minerals and trace elements. It often contains higher levels of these nutrients than most other foods.
- Carrots: Carrots are sweet and provide additional texture to the salad.
- Mandarin Oranges: Like other oranges, mandarin oranges are excellent sources of vitamin C, although not as high in this valuable nutrient as navel oranges, even comparing equal portions. However, mandarins provide more significant amounts of two antioxidant phytochemicals: beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin.
- Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds are used as a garnish.
Asian Pasta Salad Ingredient Substitutions
- Choose any shape or type of pasta. Gluten-free pasta works as well.
- Try any sturdy greens if kale isn't available.
- Napa cabbage or any other variety works as a substitute for white or purple cabbage.
- Instead of shelled edamame, try chickpeas.
- Baby bell peppers have the same flavor as red bell peppers in various colors.
- Yellow or red onions replace green onions in this salad.
- Substitute rice sheets for seaweed or Nori.
- Parsnips are an excellent substitute for carrots.
- Clementines are similar to mandarin oranges.
- Skip the sesame seeds if you don't have them on hand.
With 10 minutes of prep time while the pasta cooks, you will have dinner in under 20 minutes and lunch for the whole week. Generally, I eat this salad one day and save the rest of the Asian salad for the following day. However, this salad lasts up to five days, dressed in teriyaki.
How to Make Asian Pasta Salad
Once the noodles are cooked, drain them and rinse them in cold water until they are cooled or at room temperature.
- Chop the Kale into bite-sized pieces and fill the base of the bowl.
- Add the drained, cooled pasta and the other chopped vegetables.
- Crumble the seaweed.
- Then add the teriyaki salad dressing.
- Garnish with mandarin oranges and sesame seeds.
Teriyaki Salad Dressing Ingredients
Without a doubt, I prefer making my dressings, but sometimes, I take shortcuts. So, there are two versions of this dressing, and both taste fantastic. One version, however, is much easier than the other two make and requires two ingredients.
- Vegan Cashew Mayo: I make my own vegan cashew mayo.
- Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar is sweet and tangy.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is sweet and provides a natural sweetener without using sugar.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce gives the dressing a salty, umami flavoring.
- Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard is tangy and adds flavor to the dressing.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves are the best for flavor in dressing.
- Black Pepper: Black pepper gives the dressing added flavor.
- Water: The water thins the dressing.
Teriyaki Salad Dressing Ingredient Substitutions
- Combine raw cashews, water, and teriyaki sauce for a shortcut version of the same dressing.
- Instead of cashews, use silken tofu, white beans or vegan unsweetened yogurt.
- Agave or date syrup substitute maple syrup in this dressing.
- Choose tamari or liquid aminos for a gluten-free option to replace the soy sauce.
- Stone-ground mustard is similar to dijon mustard in taste.
- One clove of garlic equals about ⅛th of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Again, dressing the Asian pasta salad in advance helps soften the kale and absorb the flavors of the other ingredients and the dressing.
Recipe FAQs
Although any pasta shape works well for this recipe, I prefer whole-grain bow tie pasta for its sturdiness and pretty shape.
Date syrup, Agave, or molasses.
Cold Asian pasta salad will last dressed, in the refrigerator, for 3-5 days.
Tips
- I chose to cold my Asian pasta salad recipe, but serving it warm is also possible.
- Also, if you don't like kale, any greens work well, but don't dress the salad immediately.
- Salads made primarily with kale hold up for days when dressed ahead of time. This is because kale softens when dressed, making it more easily digestible.
- Add grilled, air-fried, or baked tofu for added protein.
- Include peapods, red onions, yellow onions, bok choy, and any other vegetables.
Don't forget the sesame seeds and mandarin oranges for the best Asian pasta salad recipe!
Other Great Vegan Salads
If you love this Asian pasta salad, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!
📖 Recipe
Asian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Asian Pasta Salad
- 4 cups chopped red kale stems removed
- 8 ounces bow tie pasta whole-grain or any pasta; cooked and cooled
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- 2 carrots shaved
- 1 red pepper sliced thin
- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 cup shredded white cabbage
- 1 cup mame shelled edamame cooked and cooled
- 1 sheet seaweed paper crushed
Garnish
- 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
- 4 mandarin oranges peeled, sliced in half, and sectioned clementines also work
Teriyaki Dressing Option 1
- ½ cup cashew mayo or vegan mayo of choice Or substitute white beans or silken tofu for cashews for a nut-free option
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or date syrup
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce or Tamari
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Short cut Teriyaki Dressing Option 2
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- ¼ cup bottled teriyaki sauce of choice
- ½ cup water
Instructions
Preparing the Vegetables/Salad Ingredients
- Bring 6 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt and boil.
- Add pasta and reduce heat to simmer.
- Cook according to package instructions (11-13 minutes).
- Chop the vegetables and cut the oranges.
- When pasta is cooked, drain and run cold water over the pasta to stop cooking.
- Pasta should be cool when placed with other ingredients (unless eaten warm).
- In a large bowl place the chopped kale at the base of a large bowl.
- Now add the vegetables and cooled pasta and cooled mame.
Teriyaki Salad Dressing
- Choose Option 1 or 2
- Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth
- Pour over salad and toss until coated.
- Refrigerate for an hour or more before serving.
- Toss again before servings and add sesame seeds and mandarin orange segments.
Notes
- I chose to cold my Asian pasta salad recipe, but serving it warm is also possible.
- Also, if you don't like kale, any greens work well, but don't dress the salad immediately.
- Salads made primarily with kale hold up for days when dressed ahead of time. This is because kale softens when dressed, making it more easily digestible.
- Add grilled, air-fried, or baked tofu for added protein.
- Include peapods, red onions, yellow onions, bok choy, and other vegetables.
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Rachel
YUM!! I made a huge batch for the week..doubled the dressing (hoping it was going to be tasty). It was EVERYTHING I anticipated!! Thank you! (:
Kathy Carmichael
Rachel, I'm so glad you liked it. It is one of my personal favorites. I can eat it all week long, too. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.
Tammie
This looks great. I am going to make this for a party tomorrow.