Patty's 5 Star Chinese Chicken Salad

Quest4ZBest's Note:

I received this recipe from a good friend. It is one of my favorite salads. It is a nice change from the "mayo" chicken salad. It is filling, but not heavy. It makes a great meal or side. A great combination of flavors, none of which are too overpowering. This recipe makes a lot, so I usually cut the recipe in half. I'm sure you'll love it! (cooking time is "chilling" time for pasta)

• Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 12

Yield: 12.0

• 1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2⁄3; cup teriyaki sauce
• 2⁄3; cup rice vinegar (or white if necessary)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 (6 ounce) bags fresh spinach
• 1 (6 ounce) bag craisins
• 3 (11 ounce) cans mandarin oranges , drained
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 bunch green onion
• ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds
• 1 (6 ounce) can honey roasted peanuts
• 2 cups cooked chicken , cut into small pieces or shredded

Directions:

1. Cook pasta al dente.
2. Blend together oil, teriyaki sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper.
3. Pour over pasta and let set for 2 hours or overnight.
4. Just before serving add remaining ingredients and toss.
5. Eat!

Reviews

[KillerTasteBuds]

This was a great salad. We had it this weekend for dinner, and it had enough substance to be the main dish. It would make a great potluck item. The only thing I would change next time is to decrease the amount of oil. It was just a tad too much for my taste. Thanks, it's a keeper.