Spring Spinach Strawberry Pasta Salad

# Ingredients List:

→ 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

06 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, thinly sliced

→ 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 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook bow-tie pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold water to stop cooking process, and allow to cool completely.

02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and smooth.

03 - Combine cooled pasta, baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds in a large salad bowl.

04 - Drizzle poppy seed dressing over salad mixture. Toss gently to ensure even coating of all ingredients.

05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil. Serve immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

The sweet and savory combo hits every taste bud in the best way possible
It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after the flavors mingle for a bit
You can throw it together in under 30 minutes but it looks like you spent all afternoon

02 -

Don't dress the salad more than an hour before serving or the spinach will get sad and wilted
Toast the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat, shaking constantly, until they smell amazing
The dressing keeps in the fridge for a week, so double it and thank yourself later

03 -