A 15-minute potluck pasta salad for your summer barbecues

With warmer weather comes backyard parties and picnics in the park. This easy pasta salad recipe will be your go-to all season long.

Want to up your veggie game? Add chopped cucumber and bell pepper to this Asian Bow Tie Pasta for an extra nutritional boost.Charisse Yu
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Summer is just around the corner (can you believe Memorial Day weekend is next week?), which means it's time to dust off your favorite crowd-pleasing dishes for potluck and barbecue season. Or maybe it's time to try out a new dish, sure to knock the socks (and sandals) off your backyard guests.

My flavorful Asian bow tie pasta is sure to be a favorite around the picnic table! As a mom of two young boys I am always sharing my easy family meals on Instagram. It's hard to fix food quickly that everyone will eat, so I try my best to make all my meals family friendly. This vegetarian bow tie pasta is affordable and is great for lunchboxes and parties alike.

Asian Bow Tie Pasta

Serves 6

Ingredients:

20 oz. farfalle pasta, cooked

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup sesame oil

1/2 cup chopped spinach or cilantro

3 tbs. toasted sesame seeds, optional

1 tbs. crushed red pepper, optional

Optional veggie add-ins: chopped cucumber or red bell pepper

To serve:

1. Cook pasta per box instructions.

2. Chop desired vegetable (cilantro , spinach, cucumber and/or red bell pepper) and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix pasta and all ingredients until well incorporated.

4. Add sesame seeds and chili pepper flakes if desired.

5. Serve hot, room temperature or cold.

Cook's tip: It's best when refrigerated over night. It allows the sauce to marinate into the pasta

Recipe reprinted with permission from Charisse Yu.

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