Raspberry Spinach Feta Pasta Salad (Print Version)
Vibrant pasta salad with fresh raspberries, spinach, and feta in a tangy vinaigrette.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 7 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 1 tsp salt for boiling water
→ Vegetables & Fruit
03 - 3.5 oz baby spinach, washed and dried
04 - 4.5 oz fresh raspberries
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1 small cucumber, diced
→ Cheese & Nuts
07 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
08 - 1 oz toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool completely.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
03 - Place cooled pasta, baby spinach, red onion, cucumber, and half the raspberries in a large serving bowl.
04 - Pour vinaigrette over salad mixture and toss gently until evenly coated.
05 - Scatter crumbled feta, remaining raspberries, and toasted nuts over the top.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet raspberries balance the tangy feta in a way that makes people pause and ask whats in it
- It comes together faster than you can set the table, earning you compliments without the kitchen marathon
02 -
- Cold pasta absorbs dressing like a sponge, so toss it with about half the vinaigrette right after rinsing
- Wait until the last possible moment to add the remaining raspberries or they will turn your beautiful salad into something resembling a crime scene
03 -
- Spinach stems make the salad feel bitter and sad, spend the extra two minutes picking them out
- Room temperature ingredients absorb dressing better than cold ones straight from the fridge