Orange Pasta Salad
Description
This bright and zesty Orange Pasta Salad is the perfect balance of sweet and savory, making it an ideal choice for summer picnics, potlucks, or a light weeknight dinner. The dressing, crafted from fresh orange juice concentrate, vegetable oil, and white-wine vinegar, creates a tangy emulsion that coats every bite without overwhelming the delicate flavors. Tender cooked chicken breast provides a satisfying protein boost, while halved seedless grapes and chunked cucumber add essential crunch and juiciness. Served over a bed of crisp lettuce leaves, this salad offers a refreshing contrast in textures that keeps it light yet filling. Its a colorful dish that brings a touch of Italian-inspired freshness to your table, relying on simple, high-quality ingredients for maximum flavor. Prepare it ahead of time to allow the flavors to meld, serving chilled for the best experience.Ingredients
Directions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells or elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente.
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Drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
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While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the thawed orange juice concentrate, vegetable oil, white-wine vinegar, salt, and ground pepper until well combined.
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Add the cubed cooked chicken, 1 1/2 cups of the orange sections, halved grapes, cucumber chunks, and sliced green onions to the bowl with the pasta.
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Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated and combined.
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Arrange the separated lettuce leaves on individual serving plates. Mound the pasta salad on top of the lettuce leaves.
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Garnish each serving with the remaining orange sections. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 707.6kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 22.6g35%
- Saturated Fat 4.1g21%
- Cholesterol 153.0mg51%
- Sodium 5024.7mg210%
- Total Carbohydrate 65.5g22%
- Dietary Fiber 10.3g42%
- Sugars 39.8g
- Protein 63.4g127%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to meld, so the salad often tastes better the next day.
Ingredient Substitution: If fresh oranges are out of season, you can use mandarin orange segments from a can (drained) for a sweeter variation. You can also swap the green onions for thinly sliced red onion for a sharper bite.
Preparation Tip: To easily remove seeds from the cucumber, slice it lengthwise and use a teaspoon to scoop out the watery seed core before chopping into chunks. This prevents the salad from becoming watery.
Variation: For a heartier salad, add 1/2 cup of toasted slivered almonds or pecans for extra crunch and nuttiness.
