Sesame and Cilantro Pasta

With summer is just around the corner I've been trying to find some lighter, easier dishes for dinner. Specifically, ones that don't involve the oven. It has started to warm up in Nice and since we don't want to turn on the AC yet, keeping the heat down in the apartment is essential. 

I came across this one last week while perusing my favorite food blog- Simply Recipes. If you are ever looking for a good recipe, start here first. It's the best. Anyways, the original recipe is for a meatless pasta salad served cold. We have made a few little changes from the original beginning with the fact that John is always a little leery of anything that is meatless. So, the second time we made it, John sauteed some chicken, sliced it, and threw it on top. Also, we serve it nice and warm. I tried the leftovers cold the next day and it just didn't have the rich sesame taste that it does when it's hot. 

Sorry, I had every intention of taking pictures of this. I even delayed blogging about it so that I could take pictures. But, it was a late dinner, we were both hungry, and I just didn't take any. Hopefully, the next time we make this I will manage to get a few pictures in before we eat. 

Update: here is a picture for you!

Sesame and Cilantro Pasta 
Ingredients

Honey Soy Dressing
1/4 cup grapeseed oil or corn oil (I used Vegetable oil and it was fine.)
3 Tbsp dark sesame oil

1 teaspoon crushed dried red pepper

3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp soy sauce

Pasta
8 ounces of spaghetti, or angel hair pasta
Salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/3 cup sliced and chopped red bell pepper
1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

2-3 chicken breasts

Method 

1 Cook the pasta in a large saucepan in salted boiling water, according to directions on pasta package. Drain but do not rinse. 

2 While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a microwave-safe dish, heat the vegetable oil, sesame oil, and red pepper, in the microwave on high heat for 2 minutes. Add the honey and soy sauce and mix well.

3 Combine the drained pasta with the dressing in a large bowl until the pasta is well coated. Mix in the cilantro, peanuts, green onions and bell pepper. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

4 To saute your chicken- Coat both sides with salt and pepper. Add 2 tbls olive oil to a medium-large metal skillet. Heat on medium-high heat until oil is HOT. Place chicken in skillet. BE CAREFUL. Oil will pop. 

5 Cook on one side for about 3-4 minutes depending on the size of your chicken. Flip, reduce heat, and cover. Check chicken temperatures after 3 minutes. If thoroughly cooked, remove from heat, allow to cool for a few minutes, slice and serve on top of pasta. 

Enjoy!! 

Original Recipe thanks to Simply Recipes