By Mayo Clinic Staff

Dietitian's tip:

This salad has a unique blend of spicy, sweet and sour flavors and crispy, chewy and crunchy textures. It's also an excellent source of fiber and folate.

Number of servings

Serves 6
  1. DASH diet
  2. Low-sodium
  3. Heart-healthy
  4. Weight management
  5. Plant-based
  6. Meatless
  7. Healthy-carb
  8. Diabetes meal plan
  9. High-fiber

Ingredients

    For the dressing:

  1. 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
  2. 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  3. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  4. 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  5. 1/4 cup olive oil
  6. For the salad:

  7. 4 ounces uncooked whole-wheat spiral pasta
  8. 6 cups mixed greens
  9. 2 large fresh pears, cored and sliced
  10. 1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts
  11. 1/2 cup golden raisins
  12. 3 tablespoons roasted unsalted soy nuts

Directions

Use a small bowl to make the dressing. Add the rosemary, cinnamon, salt, balsamic vinegar and olive oil; whisk thoroughly to blend.

Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender (al dente), 10 to 12 minutes, or according to the package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse under cold water.

In large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, mixed greens, pears, water chestnuts and raisins. Whisk the dressing again briefly and add to the salad. Toss to coat evenly. Divide the salad onto individual plates and top with soy nuts. Serve immediately.

Nutritional analysis per serving

Serving size: About 2 cups

  • Calories 274
  • Total fat 10 g
  • Saturated fat 1 g
  • Trans fat 0 g
  • Monounsaturated fat 7 g
  • Cholesterol 0 mg
  • Sodium 136 mg
  • Total carbohydrate 40 g
  • Dietary fiber 6 g
  • Total sugars 16 g
  • Added sugars 0 g
  • Protein 6 g
July 01, 2017