This light and refreshing Asian Capellini Salad blends delicate pasta with tamari, sesame oil, sweet bell peppers, and scallions for a flavorful twist. Perfect as a side dish or a quick main, it’s a simple fusion of East and West in every bite.
Course lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine asian, Vegan, vegetarian
Servings 8
Ingredients
pound Capellini
1/2 cupTamariCanbe found in any asiam food isle
1/2tspcayenne pepper or to tasteWe prefer 3/4 tsp but some find that too spicy
3ouncesToasted Seasme Oil
1largeRed Bell Pepper coursely chopped
1largeGreen Bell Pepper coursely chopped
1largeYellow Bell Pepper, coursely chopped
1bunchScallions, coursely chopped
1bunch Cilantro, coursely chopped
Toasted Black Sesame Seedsfor garnish
Toasted White Sesame Seeds for garnish
Instructions
Boil pasta in as per package instuctions, stirring frequently. If package gives a range, such as 3-4 minutes always choose the lower number.. Drain pasta and rinse immmediatley in cold wat. erLet dry completely. Would suggest at least 2 hours.
Rinse the cilantro and scallions at the same time as pasta and allow to air dry.
Mix together tamari, cayenne and sesame oil until. well blended.
Place pasae in a lrage mixing bowl. This is imporant as tossing can get messy. Toss dry cooked pasta with dressing. Adjust the amount of cayenne as needed.
Coarsely chop the peppers and scallions, then toss them with the pasta. Coarsely chop the cilantro and fold it into the salad.
Optional: If using sesame seeds sprinkle the sesame seeds on individual servings rather than mixing them into the main bowl, where they can turn soggy.
Optional: Sprinkle a few choppled scallions on the top for presenation.
Notes
Though thicker noodles like spaghetti can be substituted, we’ve found they make the dish too heavy, the delicate capellini really lets the flavors shine.
Tamari is similar to soy sauce, but soy should not be substituted for tamari. Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce made primarily from soybeans with a richer, less salty flavor and has little to no wheat, while regular soy sauce is saltier and typically brewed with more wheat. We tried soy sauce once, but it was not even close and was too salty. It can be found in the Asian section of most grocery stores or in Asian markets.3. The salad is best enjoyed within two days, but we have eaten it for over a week.4. This makes a great potluck dish and excellent side dish for a picnic and barbecue.
5. Cayenne pepper in the recipe is conservative, as we like our spicier. 6. We do love our cilantro so sometimes with use 1 1/2 bunches to add even more flavor.6. We can't suggest enough to allow the pasta to dry after cooking. One time, we did it in a rush, and it was a huge mistake. 6. This is such a fast, easy, and delicious dish to make, and always gets rave reviews!
Keyword Asian capelline recipe, asian-inspired pasta recipe, cold pasta salad, paata, salad, Vegan, Vegetarian