Sesame ginger pasta salad is a refreshing break from heavy, mayonnaise laden salads. With a zesty Asian style dressing and tons of crunchy veggies, this noodle salad livens up any picnic or potluck!

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I love a good classic pasta salad.

But I also love to keep things fresh and interesting.

Not just for me, but for my boys who make no bones about complaining that I’ve served up the same old thing yet again.

And this Asian pasta salad is the perfect way to switch things up and stave off the complaints of my peanut gallery.

Plus it’s easy to throw together, fabulous cold, stores well, and gets my kids to eat some veggies.

It’s really a winner all around.

Ingredients

To make this, you’ll need:

Sesame seeds– If you don’t like them, you can skip them, but they do add a really nice nutty flavor.
Dressing ingredients– Ginger paste, Dijon mustard, seasoned rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and soy sauce
Pasta– We use farfalle (bowties) but you can use any medium sized pasta like penne or ziti if you prefer. Cook it according to package directions and let it cool.
Veggies– Blanched snow peas, seeded and diced red pepper, and one whole bunch of sliced green onions
Peanuts – Just like the sesame seeds, this garnish is optional but does add great texture and crunch and pairs perfectly with the flavors in the dressing.

How to Make

This sesame pasta salad is so easy to make.

To do it, start by toasting the sesame seeds in a small skillet over medium heat for about two minutes or until they’ve turned a light brown. Set them aside.

To a small mixing bowl add the ginger paste, mustard, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and soy sauce.

Whisk all the sauce ingredients together until the dressing is smooth. Set the bowl aside.

Toss the cooked pasta, snow peas, diced pepper, sliced green onions and the dressing together in a large mixing bowl.

Once everything is coated, put it in the refrigerator to chill.

Serve cold, making sure to toss everything again right before hand.

Just before plating, top with sesame seeds and/or peanuts for garnish.

Enjoy!

Can This Cold Pasta Salad Be Served Warm?

Absolutely!

If you don’t have time to chill it, or have someone who prefers their pasta salad on the warmer side- this Asian pasta salad is just as delicious when served at room temperature.

I highly recommend trying to both ways to discover which is your favorite way to enjoy this easy side dish.

What Meat Can I Add To Asian Pasta Salad?

While this vegetarian Asian pasta salad makes a great side dish when paired with a meaty main dish- sometimes, especially in the Summer months, we want to turn it into a whole light & refreshing meal.

When that mood strikes I add either chopped, cooked pieces of steak or chopped leftover rotisserie chicken.

It’s a delicious way to give life to leftover grilled meats, but also a great way to flesh this out into a filling Summer supper that doesn’t weigh you down.

I’ve also made this by mixing in a chopped up leftover pork chop or two, and it was equally enjoyed by all.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover pasta salad in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

What to Serve with Sesame Ginger Pasta Salad

This zingy Asian style pasta salad pairs well with almost anything you’d serve at a cookout.

You could also turn it into a whole meal in and of itself by adding some rotisserie chicken or flaked salmon to the pasta salad.

Tips and Tricks

Not a fan of toasted sesame seeds? Crispy chow mein noodles or even slivered almonds both add the perfect crunchy topping to servings of this Asian style pasta salad.
For even more zest, throw a clove of pressed garlic into the dressing.
You could really load up on veggies and add any you’d find in Asian meals. Ideas include mushrooms, celery, water chestnuts, baby corn, and edamame.

Other Pasta Salad Recipes

Sesame ginger pasta salad is the perfect way to add some pizzaz to your next picnic. Make it and enjoy!

Looking for other pasta salad recipes? Try these:

If you’ve tried this SESAME GINGER PASTA SALAD, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!