Strawberry Balsamic Pasta Salad

A simple salad made with al dente fusilli pasta featuring fresh strawberries, baby spinach, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped walnuts, all tossed in a homemade vinaigrette prepared with pureed strawberries, balsamic vinegar and honey.

The perfect summer salad just hit your plate!

Featured Ingredients

For the dressing:

• Strawberries: Pureed fresh strawberries are the base of this dressing.
• Balsamic vinegar: The best tart vinegar to make this dressing really shine.
• Dijon mustard: Adds another tart, mustardy flavor, and adds body and texture.
• Honey: Makes the dressing a bit sweet and also balances the flavors.
• Lemon juice: Adds a fresh flavor.

For the salad:

• Pasta: I used Andean Dream’s fusilli.
• Strawberries: Freshly sliced strawberries are the star of this pasta salad. The sweet, juicy bite into a strawberry pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.
• Spinach: Chopped fresh spinach adds color.
• Feta cheese: Briny feta brings this salad to life.
• Walnuts: The nutty crunch rounds out this salad just right.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Drain; rinse with cold water. Place in a large bowl.
3. To the bowl, add strawberries, spinach, feta and walnuts. Set aside.
4. Place all dressing ingredients in a small food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
5. Toss salad ingredients with dressing.
6. Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
7. To serve, top with fresh mint and/or basil.

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

• For the pasta: Use rotini, fusilli, farfalle or any shaped pasta.
• Instead of strawberries: Try fresh raspberries, blackberries or blueberries.
• Instead of spinach: Use thinly sliced kale that’s been massaged with olive oil.
• Instead of feta: Try crumbled goat cheese.
• Instead of walnuts: Try sliced almonds or pecans.

Nutrition Considerations

• To make this gluten-free: If you use gluten-free pasta, this salad is gluten-free.
  • Be sure all packaged ingredients you choose are gluten-free.
• To make this dairy-free: Use a dairy-free cheese or omit the cheese.
• To make this vegan: Use dairy-free cheese or omit the cheese.
• To make this egg- free: This recipe doesn’t contain eggs.
• To make this nut-free: Skip the nuts – add sunflower seeds instead.
  • Be sure all ingredients you choose are nut-free.

Pasta salad recipes to add to your menu:

• Pesto Caprese Salad
• Cucumber Feta Pasta Salad
• Asparagus Pesto Pasta Salad
• Italian Cavatappi Pasta Salad
• Broccoli Pesto Pasta Salad
• Italian Tortellini Salad

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