Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Refreshing bow-tie pasta salad with baby spinach, strawberries, almonds, and homemade poppy seed dressing. Serves 4.

# What You 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 Steps:

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 in a colander, rinse with cold water, and allow to cool completely.
02 - Combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Whisk thoroughly until all ingredients are well integrated.
03 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large salad bowl. Add baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Pour poppy seed dressing over pasta mixture and toss gently until all components are evenly coated.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet and savory combo hits every craving at once
  • It travels beautifully and actually gets better after the flavors mingle
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • Dry your spinach completely with a salad spinner or the dressing slides right off
03 -
  • Buy strawberries the same day you plan to make this for the sweetest flavor
  • Invest in good quality olive oil since it really shines in this simple dressing
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