This Easy Asian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavorful, and incredibly simple dish to prepare, making it the perfect accompaniment for any summer BBQ, picnic, or potluck. Combining your favorite Asian-inspired ingredients with tender pasta and a delightful sweet and savory dressing, this salad is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser that your guests will adore!

As an official ambassador for Dole, I received compensation for my time dedicated to creating this recipe. Rest assured, all opinions and recommendations expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Irresistible Asian Pasta Salad: Your Go-To Summer Side

With summer now in full swing and the kids officially on school break, our household activities have ramped up considerably. From fun-filled camps to exciting baseball games and endless summer adventures, life gets pretty busy! This time of year calls for simple yet delicious dishes that can keep up with our fast-paced schedule, especially when it comes to picnics and backyard BBQs. That’s precisely why today’s recipe for an easy Asian Pasta Salad is an absolute lifesaver.

This fantastic Asian Pasta Salad harnesses the convenience and fresh flavors of the new DOLE® Bountifulô Sweet Thai Salad Kit. Beyond its use in this delightful pasta salad, I find these salad kits to be invaluable for my weekly meal prep routine. In the warmer months, ensuring I have healthy, ready-to-eat options on hand is key to avoiding last-minute scrambling for nutritious meals. These kits make it incredibly easy to put together quick lunches or add a vibrant side to any dinner.

The DOLE® Bountiful Salad Kits are a game-changer, available in four exciting new flavors: Fiesta Ranch, Sweet Thai, Lentil Cucumber, and Triple Quinoa. Each kit offers a unique and incredibly flavorful experience, but I must confess, the Sweet Thai and Lentil Cucumber varieties are particular favorites of mine. Their thoughtfully curated ingredients and dressings provide a gourmet touch without any of the effort.

The beauty of using a pre-packaged salad kit like the DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai is that all the essential components, including the dressing, are conveniently packed in one bag. This makes it an ideal solution for effortless on-the-go meals, a speedy salad to accompany dinner, or a robust lunch when you simply add your favorite plant-based or animal protein. For today’s Asian Pasta Salad, we combine the kit’s fresh elements with cooked pasta and a few simple additions to create a spectacular side dish perfect for any summer gathering or casual weeknight dinner.

Key Ingredients for an Authentic Asian Pasta Salad

Our Asian Pasta Salad is built around the fantastic DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit, thoughtfully blended with your choice of pasta. Let’s delve into the delicious components found within the salad kit and explore a few optional add-ins that elevate this salad to new heights of flavor and texture.

Red Rice: The Sweet Thai salad kit includes a generous portion of red rice. I absolutely adore how the red rice contributes a delightful, slightly chewy texture that beautifully complements the crisp vegetables. If the specific salad kit isn’t available in your area, feel free to substitute with brown rice or even white rice you might have on hand. Cooked quinoa would also be a fantastic, protein-rich alternative.

Beans: Black beans and edamame are stellar additions to this Asian-style pasta salad. Not only do they bring a lovely pop of color, but they also significantly boost the protein content, making the salad more satisfying and nutritious. Their mild, earthy flavors perfectly balance the sweet and tangy dressing. If you’re looking to experiment, chickpeas or cannellini beans could also work wonderfully here.

Vibrant Vegetables: The salad kit features crisp matchstick carrots, providing both sweetness and crunch. I always believe more vegetables are better in a salad, so I often toss in some diced cucumber from my fridge for extra freshness. Other excellent additions include thinly sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange for color), sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, or even blanched broccoli florets. Feel free to incorporate any seasonal vegetables you have on hand to customize your salad.

Fresh Greens: The greens in this salad, typically a blend of romaine and iceberg lettuce from the kit, offer a vital dose of vitamins and a refreshing base for the pasta and other ingredients. Their crispness provides a wonderful contrast to the tender pasta. For a different twist, you could consider adding chopped bok choy, nutrient-dense kale, or tender spinach to the mix.

Pasta Perfection: For this recipe, I opted for a medium-sized pasta shape, such as rotini, fusilli, or farfalle, which are excellent for catching the dressing and other small ingredients. However, feel free to use any pasta shape you prefer – penne, elbow macaroni, or even spaghetti broken into smaller pieces would work. For a lighter, low-carb option, consider using zucchini noodles or spiralized carrots in place of traditional pasta.

Signature Dressing: One of the greatest perks of using a salad kit is that the dressing is already included and perfectly complements the flavors. Simply open the packet and toss it with your salad components. The sweet and tangy profile of the Sweet Thai dressing is truly exceptional. If you’re creating the salad from scratch, or if you prefer a different flavor, a store-bought peanut dressing or a homemade sesame-ginger vinaigrette would also be incredibly delicious alternatives.

Crafting Your Asian Pasta Salad: Simple Steps for Success

Making this Asian Pasta Salad is incredibly straightforward, largely thanks to the convenience of the DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit. Here’s how you can whip up this delightful dish in no time, whether you’re using the kit or building it from scratch.

Using the DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit:

1. Start by cooking your chosen pasta according to package directions until it’s perfectly al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down and prevent it from sticking. Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
2. Open your DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit. Add all the contents of the kit – the greens, red rice, crunchy toppings, and the dressing packet – to the bowl with the pasta.
3. Add any additional ingredients you wish, such as diced English cucumber and freshly chopped cilantro, as recommended in this recipe.
4. Pour the entire packet of Sweet Thai dressing over the mixture. Toss everything together gently but thoroughly until all the pasta and salad components are evenly coated.
5. Serve immediately, or chill for at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld beautifully. Enjoy this wonderfully easy and flavorful side dish!

Creating Your Asian Pasta Salad from Scratch (Kit-Free Option):

If the DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit isn’t available in your area, or if you simply prefer to make your salad entirely from scratch, you can easily replicate the flavors with these ingredients:

• 8 ounces of Pasta: Cooked al dente, drained, and rinsed.
• 1 cup Matchstick Carrots: Or finely shredded carrots.
• 1/2 cup Cooked Brown or Red Rice: Ensures that hearty texture.
• 1/2 cup Cooked Edamame and 1/2 cup Cooked Black Beans: For protein and vibrant color.
• 1 English Cucumber: Peeled and finely diced, for a refreshing crunch.
• 1/2 cup Freshly Chopped Cilantro: Adds a burst of fresh, herbaceous flavor.
• 1/4 cup of Your Favorite Asian-Style Salad Dressing: A sweet Thai-style dressing or a creamy peanut dressing would be perfect.
• Optional Greens: Add 2-3 cups of chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce for extra freshness and volume.
• Optional Toppings: A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or chopped peanuts for added texture.

Customize Your Salad: Exciting Additions and Variations

One of the best aspects of this Asian Pasta Salad is its incredible versatility. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different ingredients to suit your taste preferences or to utilize what you have on hand. Here are some fantastic ideas to elevate your salad:

Crunchy Nuts & Seeds: Incorporating nuts and seeds is a fantastic way to introduce extra crunch, healthy fats, and additional nutrition to your pasta salad. I particularly enjoy adding toasted sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, or even cashews. A quick toast in a dry pan brings out their full flavor.

Hearty Beans: While this salad kit already includes black beans and edamame, you can easily swap them or add more variety. Chickpeas or white beans would both be excellent additions, contributing a different texture and mild flavor. If you’re a fan of bean-rich salads, you might also enjoy a classic Black Bean Salad or a Three Bean Salad – both are perennial summer favorites.

More Fresh Vegetables: When preparing pasta salads, I love to open my fridge and simply add any fresh vegetables that need to be used. Beyond the kit’s contents and cucumber, consider adding chopped bell peppers, crisp snap peas, sweet corn, thinly sliced radishes, or even blanched green beans or broccoli florets. For an unexpected twist, finely diced zucchini or eggplant (roasted or lightly sautéed) can also be wonderful additions.

Protein Boost: If you’re looking to transform this side dish into a more substantial meal, adding a source of lean protein is an excellent idea. Grilled chicken, pan-seared salmon, or succulent shrimp are all fantastic choices that pair beautifully with the Asian flavors. For plant-based protein, marinated and pan-fried tofu or tempeh would be equally delicious. My personal favorite way to enjoy this is as an Asian Pasta Salad with perfectly seasoned grilled chicken.

Serving Suggestions and Meal Prep Tips

This Asian Pasta Salad is incredibly versatile and can be served in a multitude of ways. It’s excellent as a stand-alone light lunch, a vibrant side dish for a BBQ, or a fulfilling component of your weekly meal prep. The flavors tend to deepen and become even more delicious after chilling for a few hours, making it an ideal make-ahead option.

• Picnics & Potlucks: Its robust nature means it travels well and holds up beautifully at room temperature for a few hours (just be mindful of food safety in extreme heat). It’s a colorful addition that always gets rave reviews.
• Weeknight Dinners: Serve alongside grilled fish, chicken, or even a simple stir-fry for a balanced and quick meal.
• Lunchbox Hero: Portion it into containers for easy grab-and-go lunches throughout the week. Add a hard-boiled egg or some leftover grilled chicken for an extra protein boost.

For meal prepping, simply prepare the pasta salad as directed and divide it into individual airtight containers. It will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You might want to keep any extra crunchy toppings (like nuts or fried wontons) separate and add them just before serving to maintain their crispness.

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Asian Pasta Salad

By

Julia Jolliff

Learn how to make the easiest Asian Pasta Salad in just under 10 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients.

Pin
Print

Prep:

10
mins

Total:

10
mins

Servings:

8
servings

Ingredients

• 1
  
  DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit
  
• 8
  ounces
  pasta,
  cooked al dente, drained and rinsed
• 1
  english cucumber,
  diced
• cilantro,
  chopped

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package until al dente. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Put the cooled pasta in a large mixing bowl.
2. Ensure the pasta is cool. Then, add the entire contents of the DOLE® Bountiful Sweet Thai Salad Kit (greens, red rice, crunchy toppings) to the mixing bowl. Incorporate the diced cucumbers and fresh cilantro.
3. Pour the Sweet Thai dressing from the kit over all the ingredients. Toss everything gently until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated in the delicious dressing.
4. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture, or chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Enjoy your vibrant Asian Pasta Salad!

Nutrition

Calories:
153
kcal

,

Carbohydrates:
23
g

,

Protein:
4
g

,

Fat:
3
g

,

Saturated Fat:
0.1
g

,

Polyunsaturated Fat:
0.2
g

,

Monounsaturated Fat:
0.1
g

,

Sodium:
30
mg

,

Potassium:
118
mg

,

Fiber:
1
g

,

Sugar:
1
g

,

Vitamin A:
39
IU

,

Vitamin C:
1
mg

,

Calcium:
12
mg

,

Iron:
0.5
mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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