Delish Pasta Salad

This is a fun little pasta salad that I thought stood out from the monotonous crowd of pasta salads.  Yes, it does indeed have mayo.  Yes, it has carrots and bell pepper and pasta (I should hope a pasta salad has pasta).  And, yes, it's really really good.  But, the common things stop there.  Cranberries lend bursts of sweetness, and the broccoli adds a different bit of texture when you get a piece.  I always jump at the chance to use sunflowerseeds in cooking, and here was my chance, so I jumped... And so, I ended up with a very flavourful and colourful pasta salad, that also traveled very well in my lunches.  I killed two... pieces of tofu with one stone!

Snazzy Pasta Salad

Adapted from Melomeals

Serves 6-8

1 cup whole wheat elbow pasta, cooked until al dente

1 cup shredded carrots
½ cup diced bell pepper
1 cup broccoli florets
½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup sunflower seeds

1 cup cilantro, chopped

 

½ cup fat free mayo

4 leaves or so stevia, chopped (sub any sweet thing like sugar, honey, or agave)
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp dijon mustard
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp curry Powder

1 tsp garlic powder

A few dashes ginger

Parmesan cheese, to top (opt)

Mix together the pasta through cilantro in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, mix together the mayo through ginger, and whisk well. Pour over the pasta mixture, and then chill until ready to serve. Top with parmesan cheese, if desired.