Irresistibly Fresh Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad with Teriyaki Dressing
Experience the ultimate fusion of flavors and textures with this Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad. Whether you’re seeking a vibrant side dish or a satisfying main course, its light, refreshing profile and spectacular homemade teriyaki dressing will captivate your taste buds.
Some recipes are simply unforgettable. This Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad is one of them. Its unique combination of tender pasta, crisp spinach, sweet mandarin oranges, and a zesty teriyaki dressing creates a dish that’s not just good, but truly remarkable. It’s the kind of salad that garners rave reviews and disappears quickly at any gathering.
A Culinary Rediscovery: The Story Behind This Beloved Pasta Salad
A few weeks ago, an old friend sent me a recipe for a sensational salad she’d enjoyed at a baby shower. Her enthusiasm was infectious; she couldn’t stop talking about how incredible it was. Naturally, I had to try it for myself as soon as possible. And I was immediately hooked. This wasn’t just a good salad; it was one of those truly memorable dishes that leave a lasting impression.
As I meticulously prepared the ingredients, taste-testing along the way, a persistent sense of déjà vu kept nudging at my memory. The flavors, the textures, the overall concept felt incredibly familiar. Yet, I couldn’t quite pinpoint why. It wasn’t until a late-night deep dive into my own culinary archives that the truth dawned on me: I had shared an almost identical recipe way back in 2009! It seems that over a decade of blogging, combined with the natural progression of age, has a way of making you forget even your most cherished creations.
Instead of lamenting my forgetfulness or scrapping the idea of sharing this glorious salad, I embraced it as an opportunity. It became clear that if I, the creator, had forgotten about this life-changing Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad with Teriyaki Dressing, there was a high probability that many of you, my readers, might have forgotten it too, or perhaps never even discovered it!
Why This Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad Is a Must-Make
Despite its somewhat lengthy name, this salad is surprisingly simple to assemble, and I promise, the minimal effort is rewarded with an explosion of flavor. It masterfully balances sweet, savory, and tangy notes, creating a harmonious profile that is both complex and incredibly satisfying. The crunch from the water chestnuts and nuts, the chewiness of the bowtie pasta, and the tenderness of the spinach come together in a symphony of textures that makes every bite an adventure.
This vibrant pasta salad is more than just a dish; it’s a showstopper. It shines at special occasions like the baby shower my friend attended, and it’s an absolute potluck champion. But its versatility doesn’t stop there. It also serves as an excellent weeknight meal. With protein, fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates all in one bowl, it’s a complete and wholesome dinner that’s ready to be devoured.
The deliciousness of this salad is truly undeniable. My husband, Brian, couldn’t stop raving about it when we had it for dinner. The next night, when my six-year-old requested boxed mac and cheese for her birthday, Brian and I strategically loaded our plates with the leftover pasta salad. Sometimes, you just have to take one for the team and ensure the kids get their preferred meal while you savor every last bit of this incredible creation!
At the heart of this “can’t get enough” salad is its exceptional teriyaki dressing. It’s truly out of this world, delivering a perfect blend of umami, sweetness, and tang. And here’s a bonus tip I’ve discovered: this amazing dressing doubles as a fantastic marinade for chicken, infusing it with incredible flavor.
Updated for Your Convenience: Enhancements to a Classic
For those who remember and loved the original archived version of this recipe, rest assured: the changes are minor and designed to enhance your cooking experience! My primary goal with this update was to adjust the dressing and salad ingredient amounts to better suit a moderate crowd, making it perfect for family meals without an overwhelming amount of leftovers. However, for those craving the larger, original proportions, I’ve included the classic dressing recipe and ingredient amounts in the notes section.
This updated recipe easily doubles, allowing you to scale up effortlessly for larger gatherings, potlucks, or when you simply want more of this amazing salad to go around!
Elevate Your Salad with Chicken
One of my favorite ways to boost the flavor and heartiness of this salad is by adding chicken. I love brushing boneless, skinless chicken breasts with some of the teriyaki sauce (or the assembled dressing) and grilling them to perfection. The smoky flavor perfectly complements the sweet and tangy notes of the salad.
For a quicker option, feel free to use pre-cooked chicken. A store-bought rotisserie chicken works wonderfully, or you can use this simple shredded chicken recipe. Just toss the diced chicken pieces with a few tablespoons of teriyaki sauce or bottled dressing to infuse them with flavor before adding them to the salad. This simple step transforms the dish into a complete, protein-packed meal.
This Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad is truly a must-make. Its blend of ease, flavor, and delightful textures makes it a recipe you’ll want to keep in your regular rotation. I genuinely love everything about it, and I’m confident you will too!
Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad with Teriyaki Dressing Recipe
Mandarin Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad with Teriyaki Dressing
6 Servings
30
10
40
Ingredients
Teriyaki Dressing:
- ⅓ cup neutral flavored oil, like vegetable, canola or avocado
- ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce (see note)
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt, I use coarse, kosher salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Salad:
- 8 ounces bowtie pasta, cooked according to package directions, drained and cooled
- 4 packed cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ to 1 cup craisins
- 2 cans (11-ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and slivered
- ¼ to ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
- ½ to ¾ cup roasted cashews or honey roasted peanuts
- 2 cups cooked, diced chicken, tossed with 2-3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce (see note)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
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For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a jar, cap with a lid, and shake until well combined (alternately, you can whisk the dressing ingredients together in a bowl until mixed or use a blender).
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Combine all the salad ingredients except the sesame seeds in a bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and lightly toss. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately (if anticipating leftovers, consider adding dressing to individual portions instead of the salad as a whole so the spinach doesn’t get soggy and wilted for leftovers).
Notes
Original Dressing: If you are looking for the original dressing ingredients/amounts included in the first version of this recipe (posted in 2009), here they are: 1 cup canola oil, 1/3 to 2/3 cup bottled teriyaki sauce, 1/3 cup rice vinegar, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Original Salad Ingredients: 16 ounces pasta, 9-10 ounces spinach, 6 ounces craisins, 2 cans mandarin oranges, 1 can water chestnuts, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, 4 green onions, 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds, 6 ounces honey roasted peanuts, 2 cups cooked chicken.
Chicken: I usually either use cooked chicken tossed in a bit of the teriyaki sauce (rotisserie chicken works great here!) or I brush boneless, skinless chicken breasts with teriyaki sauce and grill them – yum!
Teriyaki Sauce: There are a lot of store-bought, bottled teriyaki brands available. My recommendation is to use one that you like the flavor of (I recently used the Panda Express mandarin teriyaki sauce, and it was tasty). I also love this homemade teriyaki sauce (although I haven’t tried it for this salad yet).
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 536kcal, Carbohydrates: 64g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 772mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 24g
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Recipe Source: Originally shared by my friend, Judy C., and later, as a delightful reminder, by my friend, Deb.
Recipe originally posted November 2009; updated with new pictures, adjusted ingredient amounts, and detailed notes.
