Cilantro-lime Pasta Salad (with Or Without Chicken)

Total Time: 31 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 6 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 4 ounces dried whole wheat rotini pasta
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 lb skinless chicken breast half
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup finely chopped red onion (1 large)
• 1 medium mango, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium avocado, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3/4 cup chopped yellow sweet pepper (1 medium)
• 3/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper (1 medium)
• 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
• lime wedge

Recipe

• 1 cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
• 2 meanwhile, for dressing, in a blender combine lime juice, cilantro, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. cover and blend about 30 seconds or until well mixed. set aside.
• 3 lightly coat the rack of an indoor electric grill with cooking spray. preheat grill. sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper. place chicken on grill rack. if using a grill with a cover, close lid. grill until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees f). (for a covered grill, allow about 6 minutes. for an uncovered grill, allow 12 to 15 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling.) cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
• 4 in a large bowl combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, red onion, mango, avocado, sweet peppers, and jalapeno pepper. pour dressing over pasta mixture; toss gently to coat. if desired, serve with lime wedges.