Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing

Name: Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces bowtie pasta noodles; 4 cups spinach leaves; ½ cup craisins; ⅓ cup pine nuts (or cashews); 1 4-ounce can mandarin oranges (drained); ¼ cup cilantro leaves (roughly chopped); ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce ((the thicker, the better!)); ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar ((may sub apple cider vinegar)); ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder ((if you have it)); ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon sugar; ½ cup oil ((such as vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil))

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15 minutes

Published: February 23, 2015Updated: December 20, 2022

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This mandarin pasta spinach salad with teriyaki dressing is easy, quick, healthy, and tossed in the most addictive teriyaki vinaigrette dressing!

If you love pasta salad as much as I do, then you’ll want to make these other reader favorites: Mexican Street Corn Chicken Pasta Salad, Strawberry Avocado Chicken Pasta Salad, Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad, and Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad.

This salad is my newest obsession. I mean, I’ve made it 3 times in the past 5 days. You’re probably thinking that’s a bit much. But it’s true! I made it once for my husband and myself, then for a neighbor (and myself), and then for a huge family gathering on Sunday (where I was present). Every single time it completely disappeared and everyone raved about it. I’m sure it’s due mostly to the dressing, which is positively addictive and makes me want to cry tears of blissful, heavenly joy.

Why This Recipe Works

Teriyaki dressing — The combination of craisins + spinach + mandarin oranges + pine nuts + cilantro borders on magical. But the dressing! The dressing is stuff actual dreams are formed of.

The dressing easily doubles — I’ve actually doubled the pasta salad dressing and saved half to keep in the fridge for another salad. However, all day long I find myself looking for anything and everything to dip in this stuff. Pasta, chicken, pretzels, cucumbers, my finger…

Mandarian oranges — These little, tasty citrus wedges are an unexpected (but totally amazing) addition to this spinach salad. They offer a nod to Asian food, pair well with spinach (a little bitter, a little sweet), plus offer a soft texture to the chewy craisins and crunchy pine nuts. Don’t sleep on the oranges, is what I’m getting at.

Teriyaki sauce — The dressing simply wouldn’t work without teriyaki sauce. Salty, sweet, savory, it’s all the things in one lovely bottle.

Here’s How You Make It

First, cook the bowtie pasta (or other smallish) according to the package’s directions, then drain and rinse in cold water. Set it aside.
You can make the dressing while the pasta is boiling. Just add all of the dressing ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid or in a bowl (again with a lid if it has one). Either shake the dressing ingredients in the jar with the lid on or whisk in a bowl to combine. Let the dressing remain chill in the fridge.
Now combine the pasta, spinach, nuts, oranges, raisins, and cilantro to a bowl and toss.
Pour the chilled dressing over the pasta salad right before serving and give it a toss again to combine. Serve and enjoy!

What’s the Difference Between an Orange and a Mandarin?

Mandarins are a kind of orange. Mandarin is a broad term for smaller, sweeter orange fruit like clementines and tangerines. So tangerines are a kind of mandarin. They are easier to peel too, thanks to a thinner skin that’s more loosely attached to the fruit.

Ideas for Customizing this Recipe

Add some bite and flavor to this spinach salad with some finely diced red onions or shallots. (I recommend shaking up finely diced shallots with the dressing.)
Crumbled feta or goat cheese would make an amazing addition to this spinach salad.
Instead of pine nuts, you could add slivered almonds or finely chopped pistachios.
Any type of smaller pasta shape you have on hand is fine in this pasta salad. I just like the bowties because they add a fun, pretty shape. But rotini, fusilli, and penne would work great too.
If you’d prefer a different dressing in this pasta salad, try my Orange Poppyseed Dressing (it’s amazing!).
Instead of mandarins you could use thinly sliced apples, ripe pears, or even peaches.

Is Raw Spinach Healthy?

Do you love raw spinach? Then you’re in luck because not only is it delicious, but it’s also nutritious. Raw spinach contains tons of iron, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, folate, and riboflavin. Not to mention it’s a green, leafy veggie that has protein, fiber, and calcium too!

Expert Tips

The thicker the teriyaki sauce, the better the pasta salad dressing will be. My favorite brand is Kikkoman, but you can use whatever thicker brand you like.

Unless you purchase your spinach already bagged and washed, I recommend rinsing the spinach leaves first. They can still have dirt/grit on it that doesn’t taste so great when you go to chew it. I simply soak my leaves in the sink/colander/salad spinner, then let the water drain through.
If you prefer to use fresh mandarin oranges, it’s best to peel them and then try to remove as much of the pith as you can before slicking and adding to the pasta salad.
For best results, do not dress the salad until just before you’re ready to eat it or the spinach will get too soggy. In fact, I wait to make the salad till just before we’re about to eat it or take it somewhere, then dress it. The dressing can be made a couple days ahead of time and stored in the fridge, though.

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Comments

Laurie says:

I like this recipe fairly often. I’m making it again soon for a dinner that a couple vegans will attend.

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Lili says:

This salad is addictive—beware!

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