Description

A refreshing and colorful Strawberry Fields Pasta Salad featuring bow tie pasta tossed with fresh strawberries, baby spinach, red grapes, mandarin oranges, red onion, pecans, feta cheese, and a zesty lemon poppy seed dressing. This light and vibrant salad is perfect for warm days, picnics, or as a delightful side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

16 ounces bow tie pasta

Fruits and Vegetables

1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced
4 cups baby spinach
1½ cups red grapes, sliced in half
1 small red onion, sliced thin
15 ounces mandarin oranges, drained

Other Ingredients

8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
12 ounces poppy seed dressing (suggested: Bitten Lemon flavor)
½ cup pecans
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set the pasta aside.
Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sliced strawberries, halved red grapes, thinly sliced red onion, baby spinach, drained mandarin oranges, chopped pecans, and crumbled feta cheese. Pour in the lemon poppy seed dressing and gently toss everything together until well coated.
Season and chill: Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Toss again to evenly distribute the seasoning. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid, then place it in the refrigerator to chill and allow the flavors to meld together for at least 30 minutes.
Serve: Once chilled, give the pasta salad a final toss and serve it cold as a flavorful side dish or light meal. Enjoy!

Notes

For best flavor, let the salad chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
You can substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
If you want a dairy-free option, omit the feta or replace it with a vegan cheese alternative.
Use fresh strawberries and grapes for optimal taste and texture.
Pasta can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated to save time.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Boiling and No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Strawberry pasta salad, fruit pasta salad, bow tie pasta salad, spinach pasta salad, summer salad, poppy seed dressing salad