Spice Up Your Summer With Our Pastapalooza Week 5 Winner!

You’d Be Nuts Not to Try This Pasta Salad

Over the last few weeks we’ve been wowed by our weekly winners and their different approaches to pasta salad. This weekly winning recipe puts some “heat” back into this traditionally cool dish.

The Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad is a spicy, sweet pasta salad that incorporates the spiciness of crushed red pepper flakes, cilantro and onions along with a sweet dash of honey and roasted peanuts for a bit of crunch. Served cold this spicy dish is a great side for any summer outing or to supplement a summer dinner without overpowering the meal.

Peanut Pasta Salad

by Tim

1 box of Dreamfields spaghetti pasta
1/3 cup canola oil (or olive oil)
5 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
6 teaspoons honey
¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped cilantro (optional)
¾ cup chopped roasted peanuts
1 cup minced green onions
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

First, prepare the spaghetti according to package directions. By using Dreamfields pasta there are some added nutritional benefits to this already healthy salad. Made from durum wheat semolina, Dreamfields provides the same taste and texture as traditional pasta but with twice the fiber and fewer digestible carbohydrates (only five grams) per serving. This makes it ideal for everyone in the family, especially those who have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Set pasta aside to cool.

Meanwhile heat both oils and red pepper flakes over medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add honey, soy sauce and salt. Pour over Dreamfields pasta and chill overnight, stirring occasionally.

Just before serving, add cilantro, green onions, peanuts and sesame seeds, then mix.