Pasta Bean Salad

Photo: flickr user Kripptic

Ingredients

1 pkt Any EDEN Spirals or Shells

1 bn Broccoli (optional) cut into flowerettes

1 Carrot cut into thin matchsticks

1 medium Red pepper sliced into thin strips

1 bn Green onions, sliced

15 ounces Can EDEN Navy Beans OR- any EDEN Canned beans

4 Cloves garlic peeled and pressed

cup EDEN Toasted Sesame Oil

3 tablespoons EDEN Umeboshi Paste

1/8 cup Water (or more)

Preparation

Cook pasta as package directs, drain and cool. (If using udon, break into thirds and cook according to package directions.) While noodles are cooking, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Blanch carrots and broccoli separately in boiling, salted water for 1-3 minutes. Vegetables should be lightly cooked, crisp and bright. Drain and rinse with cool water to set color. Mix pasta, beans, vegetables, pressed garlic, and red pepper.

Prepare salad dressing by mixing umeboshi paste, oil, and garlic in a blender. Add water to achieve desired consistency. Mix into salad. Serve hot or cold.

Variations: Omit water and replace Umeboshi Paste with Ume Vinegar (to taste). Green pepper can replace broccoli.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 4-5 servings