Vegetable Noodle Salad With Sesame Vinaigrette
This pasta salad is bursting with more than two pounds of sweet summer vegetables and brightened by a rich, tangy sesame-ginger vinaigrette. The angel hair pasta is broken into pieces for easy scooping, making it perfect for picnics and potlucks. It’s a great make-ahead meal that travels well — and develops even more flavor as it sits. You can prepare it a few hours ahead and keep it at room temperature.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- ½cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 2teaspoons grated peeled ginger
- 1teaspoon grated garlic
- 1pound angel hair pasta, noodles broken into thirds
- 2tablespoons safflower or canola oil
- 1small yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 3red or yellow medium bell peppers, cored, seeded and sliced lengthwise 1/8-inch thick
- 8ounces snap peas, halved lengthwise
- 8ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼cup thinly sliced scallions, plus more for garnish
- Toasted white sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Bring a pot of water to a boil, and season generously with salt.Step 2
In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, ginger and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well.Step 3
Once the water boils, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 3/4 cup pasta cooking water, then drain. Transfer pasta to a large bowl. Add half the dressing and 1/4 cup pasta water, season with salt and pepper and toss to evenly coat.Step 4
Meanwhile, in a large deep-sided saucepan, heat safflower oil over medium. Add onion and bell peppers, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Add snap peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, 1/4 cup pasta water and the remaining dressing. Stir to deglaze the pan and lift the browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, then add vegetable mixture (with sauce) and scallions to pasta and toss until well combined (add more pasta water if thinner sauce is desired). Season with salt and pepper.Step 5
Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds, if using.