Recipe Background
Asian Pasta Salad combines mango, avocado, and sesame for freshness and flavor.
When my cousin Alex announced they were moving to California for a new job, it called for a family gathering. I wanted to bring something fresh and vibrant to echo the new beginnings. With California boasting some of the finest avocados, I knew I had to incorporate them into a dish. My go-to pantry staple, soy sauce, set the tone for an Asian-inspired twist on a classic pasta salad.
The mixture of mango and avocado always reminds me of one sunny afternoon when I first discovered the magic of sweet and savory together. I tossed diced mango into the bowl along with carrot and red cabbage for a splash of color and crunch. I find it helpful to grate the carrot just so, enhancing both texture and looks without overpowering the delicate avocado. Sesame oil and sesame seeds lend the dish depth, while a sprinkle of pine nuts adds a buttery finish.
Just remember, letting the pasta cool slightly before adding the dressing allows it to absorb the flavors more completely. It's a simple step that makes all the difference. Our family gathered on the deck as the sun dipped low, filling our plates with bright possibilities laid out in a simple salad. The dish was the perfect send-off—light, flavorful, and full of promise.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
For the salad:
- 8 ounces elbow pasta
- 1 California avocado halved, seeded, peeled, and diced
- 1 mango peeled and diced
- 1 carrot peeled and grated
- 1/4 cup red cabbage shredded
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
- Whisk together the soy sauce, the sesame oil, the sugar, and the sesame seeds.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
- Drain the pasta well and allow it to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, the avocado, the mango, the carrot, the cabbage, the green onion, the pine nuts, the soy sauce dressing, the salt, and the pepper together.
- Serve immediately.
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