Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant pasta salad with fresh spinach, sweet strawberries, and tangy poppy seed dressing. Ideal for warm weather entertaining.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz bow-tie (farfalle) pasta

→ Salad Components

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 tbsp fresh basil, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp olive oil
08 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tbsp honey
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tbsp poppy seeds
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta in large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - In large salad bowl, combine cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
04 - Drizzle with poppy seed dressing and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil if using. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The combination of sweet strawberries and tangy poppy seed dressing creates that perfect sweet-and-savory balance that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something you spent all afternoon planning
  • You can make everything ahead of time and toss it right before serving, making it your new go-to for stress-free entertaining
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water until it's completely cooled, or the heat will wilt the spinach and make the strawberries soften too quickly
  • The salad is best served within 2 hours of dressing, but you can prepare all components separately and toss them together right before serving
03 -
  • Dry the spinach completely after washing, or excess water will dilute the dressing and make the salad watery
  • The flavors actually improve after 15 minutes in the refrigerator, giving everything time to meld together
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