Spicy Asian-Style Pasta Salad

Serve this as a side dish, or add some cooked shrimp or chicken for a main course. Look for the toasted sesame oil in the Asian foods section of the supermarket.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Soba noodles, broken in half
• 3 red bell peppers, seeded, thinly sliced
• 4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 3 medium carrots, shredded
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 cups snow peas
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (or cilantro)

Directions:

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain very well. Transfer to large bowl.

Whisk 3 tablespoons sesame oil, honey, soy sauce, vinegar and cayenne pepper in small bowl to blend. Season with salt. Mix half of dressing into pasta. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, peas and onion and saute until just beginning to wilt, about 2 minutes. Add vegetables to pasta. Mix in peanuts, basil and enough dressing to coat. Serve, passing any remaining dressing separately.

Makes 8 servings. Each cup provides about 328 calories, 11g protein, 10g fat, 53g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, 381mg sodium, and 297mg potassium.