Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Print)

Refreshing bow-tie pasta salad combining tender spinach, sweet strawberries, toasted almonds with homemade poppy seed dressing.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz bow-tie (farfalle) pasta

→ Salad

02 - 3.5 oz baby spinach, washed and dried
03 - 7 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
04 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
05 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander, rinse under cold water, and cool completely.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until fully combined.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Drizzle poppy seed dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like spring in a bowl, bright and light without feeling like diet food.
  • You can make it ahead and it actually gets better as the flavors soak into the pasta.
  • It works as a side dish or a full lunch, and nobody complains about eating their greens.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the pasta, warm noodles will turn your spinach into a sad, wilted mess.
  • Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for three minutes, shaking often, they go from perfect to burnt in seconds.
  • Use strawberries that are red all the way through, pale ones taste like disappointment no matter how much dressing you add.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the dressing and keep it in the fridge, it's perfect on plain greens or roasted vegetables all week.
  • If your strawberries aren't very sweet, add an extra teaspoon of honey to the dressing to balance the tartness.
  • For a vegan version, skip the feta or crumble in some dairy-free cheese, the salad is still delicious without it.
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