Green Goddess Kimchi Pasta Salad

San Francisco meets South Korea. The spicy Asian flavor profile in this cold pasta salad is a symphony of kimchi, cucumber, scallion, and mint, enhanced by a modified Green Goddess dressing. It may be a starch, but it's living in a garden of vegetable goodness.

This recipe is a website exclusive. You may see it in an upcoming cookbook! Meanwhile, there are dozens of other tempting salad and side dish recipes to choose from in my first best-selling cookbook. Order your copy today. 

Green Goddess Kimchi Pasta Salad

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Asian Green Goddess Dressing (makes 1 cup)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup packed fresh basil

1/3 cup packed fresh chives

1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves

2 tablespoons rice vinegar (and more for pasta)

2 teaspoons honey

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Couple drops Maggi seasoning (optional but recommended)

Pasta Salad

8 ounces cavatappi pasta (follow package directions)

8 ounces kimchi with juice, chopped bite-sized if needed (the red & spicy, or milder, whiter variety, as desired)

8 ounces edamame (boiled and salted)

1 medium cucumber, peeled, de-seeded, sliced, then diced

4 medium sliced scallions (white and green parts)

1 ounce chopped fresh mint leaves

1/2 ounce chopped cilantro leaves

1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds (300°F with salt and pepper for 10 minutes)

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

To your trusty blender, Ninja, or other food processor, add sour cream, mayo, basil, chives, cilantro, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic powder, ginger, Maggi.

Blend till smooth, refrigerate.

In large bowl, toss together cavatappi, kimchi, edamame, cucumber, scallions, mint, cilantro, sesame seeds.

Splash pasta mixture with rice vinegar, salt, pepper to taste, toss.

Stir in dressing. Refrigerate for at least an hour, covered, before serving. Stays good covered in fridge for up to 5 days.

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Here's how it looks with spicy (red) kimchi!