Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printable)

Refreshing bow-tie pasta with baby spinach, fresh strawberries, almonds, and homemade poppy seed dressing for spring gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz bow-tie farfalle 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 in 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 cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Drizzle poppy seed dressing over salad 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 dressing comes together in two minutes flat but tastes like you bought it from a specialty market
  • Everything can be prepped ahead so you are not scrambling when guests arrive
  • That surprising combo of strawberries and spinach works way better than it has any right to
02 -
  • Warm pasta will wilt the spinach instantly so let it cool completely before mixing
  • The dressing gets even better after sitting for an hour so feel free to make it ahead
  • Wait until the last minute to add the feta or it will get mushy and disappear into the salad
03 -
  • Dry your spinach really thoroughly with paper towels or the dressing will slide right off
  • Toast the almonds in a single layer and shake the pan frequently so they do not burn
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