Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printable)

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

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain in a colander, rinse under cold water, and allow to cool completely.
02 - In a small 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. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The poppy seed dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like you spent forever making it
  • It travels beautifully to picnics and potlucks without wilting or getting soggy
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly until it's completely cold or it'll wilt the spinach into a sad green mess
  • The dressing can be made up to three days ahead and kept in the fridge
03 -
  • Use the sharpest knife you have for the strawberries so you don't bruise them
  • If making ahead, pack the dressing separately and toss just before serving
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