Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Tender bow-tie pasta tossed with fresh spinach, strawberries, almonds, and a homemade poppy seed dressing for a refreshing spring dish.

# 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 Prepare:

01 - Cook bow-tie pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water 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.
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 mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way the sweet strawberries balance with the tangy homemade dressing makes every bite surprising and fresh
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a fancy café
  • You can make it ahead and the flavors actually get better as it sits
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta with cold water immediately after draining or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • Toast the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat shaking constantly until fragrant but watch closely like a hawk since they burn fast
  • The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and kept in a jar but give it a good shake before using
03 -
  • Pat your strawberries completely dry after slicing so they dont water down the dressing
  • Use a mix of red and yellow strawberries when you find them at the farmers market for extra color
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