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Fresh Thai Peanut Crunch Protein Pasta Salad

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A quick, healthy, and satisfying pasta salad featuring a creamy peanut sauce blended with cottage cheese, fresh crunchy veggies, and a nutty topping. Perfect for meal prep and crowd-pleasing lunches or dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini or bowtie pasta
  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup creamy natural peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup snap peas, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. In a food processor or blender, combine cottage cheese, peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add 1-2 tablespoons water if sauce is too thick.
  3. Shred cabbage and carrots, slice snap peas thinly, dice red bell pepper, chop green onions and cilantro, and roughly chop roasted peanuts.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped veggies, and peanut sauce. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
  5. Sprinkle chopped peanuts, green onions, and cilantro over the top just before serving.
  6. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Add crunchy peanuts just before serving if chilled.

Notes

Rinsing pasta after cooking prevents it from sticking and keeps the salad fresh. Blend cottage cheese into the peanut sauce for a creamy texture without heaviness. Add crunchy peanuts just before serving to maintain texture. Can substitute silken tofu or plant-based yogurt for cottage cheese to make vegan. Use gluten-free pasta and tamari for gluten-free version. For nut-free, substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter and peanuts with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thai peanut pasta salad, protein pasta salad, healthy pasta salad, meal prep salad, peanut sauce pasta, crunchy pasta salad

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/fresh-thai-peanut-crunch-protein-pasta-salad-easy-healthy-recipe-for-meal-prep/