Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printable)

Refreshing bow-tie pasta with tender spinach, sweet strawberries, toasted almonds, and homemade poppy seed dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 a boil. Add bow-tie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a colander and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large salad bowl. Add baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds, tossing gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients uniformly. Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The poppy seed dressing comes together in seconds and keeps in the fridge for weeks
  • Perfect for make-ahead meals since the flavors actually get better after a few hours
02 -
  • The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits so always save a little extra for refreshing before serving
  • Wait to add the almonds until right before serving or theyll lose their crunch
03 -
  • Toast your almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat watching closely so they dont burn
  • Hull strawberries by carefully removing the green leaves with a small paring knife
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