Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender bow-tie pasta with fresh baby spinach, sweet strawberries, toasted almonds, and homemade poppy seed dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz bow-tie pasta (farfalle)

→ 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

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add bow-tie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain through 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 thoroughly combined.
03 - Combine cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds in a large salad bowl.
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 -
  • It tastes like sunshine and feels fancy but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • The poppy seed dressing clings to every bow tie without being heavy or oily.
  • Strawberries add a juicy surprise that makes people pause mid-bite and smile.
  • It travels beautifully to potlucks and still looks gorgeous hours later.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad more than 30 minutes early, the spinach wilts and the strawberries bleed, so keep components separate until showtime.
  • Rinsing the pasta is non-negotiable here because the starch will turn your bright salad into a gummy mess.
  • Toast those almonds or don't bother, raw nuts taste flat and disappoint next to all that vibrant flavor.
03 -
  • Chill your serving bowl in the fridge for 20 minutes before assembling, it keeps everything crisp longer on a warm day.
  • If your strawberries are tart, add an extra half tablespoon of honey to the dressing to balance the pucker.
  • Toss the spinach with a tiny bit of dressing first so every leaf gets coated before you add the heavier ingredients.
Return