Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Refreshing pasta salad combining tender bow-tie pasta, fresh spinach, sweet strawberries, and homemade poppy seed dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add bow-tie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in colander, rinse under cold running 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 black pepper until thoroughly combined.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Pour poppy seed dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately while components maintain their texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The homemade poppy seed dressing comes together in seconds and tastes infinitely better than anything store bought
  • This salad actually travels well and tastes even better after the flavors have mingled
02 -
  • The pasta must be completely cool before tossing with the spinach or the greens will wilt immediately
  • Add the dressing just before serving because the spinach will get soggy if it sits too long
03 -
  • Hull the strawberries right before slicing so they do not become watery
  • If making ahead keep the almonds separate and add them at the last minute for maximum crunch
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