Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender bow-tie pasta tossed with fresh spinach, sweet strawberries, and homemade poppy seed dressing for a vibrant seasonal dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz bow-tie pasta

→ Salad

02 - 3.5 oz fresh 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 - Cook bow-tie pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water 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 black pepper until fully 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 ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately while fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The poppy seed dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
  • Earns you compliments while requiring barely any actual cooking
  • Keeps beautifully in the fridge so you can make it ahead for gatherings
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it'll keep cooking and turn into a gummy mess
  • Wait until the pasta is completely cooled before adding the spinach or it'll wilt and look sad
  • The salad sits better if you toss it with half the dressing first and add more right before serving
03 -
  • Dry your washed spinach thoroughly with paper towels or a salad spinner so the dressing actually sticks to the leaves
  • Invest the extra minute in toasting the nuts since it transforms them from bland to absolutely incredible
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