Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Print View)

Refreshing bow-tie pasta with baby spinach, fresh strawberries, almonds, and 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 tbsp fresh basil, thinly sliced, optional

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add bow-tie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain through a colander, rinse under cold water, and set aside 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 well combined and emulsified.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Drizzle poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately while ingredients remain crisp and fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than most side dishes but feels special enough to serve guests
  • The poppy seed dressing has just enough tang to balance the sweetness of strawberries without overpowering anything
  • You can assemble it ahead and toss it right before serving, which saves you from last minute kitchen chaos
  • Even people who claim they dont like salads ask for seconds
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water after draining or the residual heat will turn your spinach into soggy greens
  • Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for three to four minutes, watching them closely because they burn fast
  • Dont dress the salad until youre ready to serve it, or the acid in the dressing will start breaking down the spinach and making everything limp
03 -
  • Use a salad spinner to dry the spinach thoroughly, wet greens will dilute the dressing and make everything taste flat
  • Toss the salad with your hands instead of tongs so you can feel when everything is evenly coated without bruising the strawberries
  • If youre serving this to a crowd, double the dressing recipe because people always want more than you think
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