For Professionals

Strawberry & Spinach Pasta Salad

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min

Adding fruit to savory meals is not common in American cooking. Yet many other cultures use fruit to add complexity and more flavor to their meals. This recipe is surprisingly simple and delicious. When the strawberries are in season you will find yourself making this over and over again.

Makes

4

Serving size

1 cup

Ingredients

12 cups water

½ pound farfalle (or penne, rotelle) pasta

½ pint strawberries

3 cups spinach leaves (baby or torn large leaves)

⅓ cup walnuts, chopped

⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled

2 tablespoons pomegranate or balsamic vinegar

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon honey

Pinch of black pepper

Instructions

  1. Boil water in a large pot with ½ tablespoon of salt and a splash of olive oil. Add pasta and cook for approximately 8 minutes.
  2. Hull strawberries and slice in half lengthwise or in quarters if they are large.
  3. Drain the cooked pasta in a sieve and let cool.
  4. Add the cooled pasta, spinach, sliced strawberries, chopped nuts and feta into a serving bowl and mix well.
  5. Combine the vinegar, olive oil, honey and black pepper in a liquid measuring cup. Mix well with small whisk or fork.
  6. Pour over the salad ingredients. Mix well again and enjoy!

Cooking Tip

Keep a range of vinegars in your pantry to add flavor variety to your recipes. Vinegars are low in both potassium and phosphorus. Good examples are apple cider, red wine, Spanish and herb vinegars.

Recipe contributed by FamilyCook Productions

Nutrition Info

Nutrition Info

Makes:Serving size: 1 cup

Calories

478

Fat

24 g

Saturated Fat

5 g

Trans Fat

<1 g

Cholesterol

11 mg

Carbohydrates

56 g

Sugar

11 g

Fiber

5 g

Protein

12 g

Sodium

138 mg

Calcium

122 mg

Phosphorus

217 mg

Potassium

451 mg