Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Print View)

Tender pasta with crisp spinach, sweet strawberries, toasted almonds, and tangy poppy seed dressing. A light and refreshing spring dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bow-tie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a colander, rinse under cold water, and allow to cool completely.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until thoroughly combined.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to ensure even coating throughout.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately while ingredients maintain their freshness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than most people can decide what to wear to a picnic.
  • The poppy seed dressing has this perfect balance of tang and sweetness that makes you want to lick the bowl.
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it right before serving so it stays crisp and bright.
  • It works as a side dish or a full lunch, depending on how hungry everyone is.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad too early, the spinach will wilt and the strawberries will bleed, so wait until the last possible moment.
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water isn't just about cooling it down, it stops the starches from making everything gummy.
  • Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat and watch them closely, they go from golden to burnt in about ten seconds.
03 -
  • Add a handful of arugula if you want a peppery bite that contrasts nicely with the sweet strawberries.
  • Drizzle a little extra honey over the finished salad if your berries are on the tart side.
  • If you're serving this as a main dish, toss in some grilled chicken or a can of drained chickpeas for protein.
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