Here’s a vibrant and delicious recipe for Spinach Pasta Salad with Feta and Cranberries. It’s light, refreshing, and packed with flavor from the fresh spinach, tangy feta, and sweet cranberries.
Ingredients:
For the pasta salad:
- 8 oz (about 2 cups) pasta (rotini, farfalle, or penne work well)
- 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (optional, for crunch)
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced (optional, for added crunch)
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
Directions:
1. Cook the pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down quickly. Set aside to drain completely.
2. Prepare the salad ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, add the fresh spinach, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, toasted pine nuts (if using), red onion, and cucumber (if using).
3. Make the dressing:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and dried oregano (if using) until smooth and well-combined.
4. Assemble the salad:
- Add the cooled pasta to the salad bowl with the spinach and other ingredients.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
5. Serve:
- Let the salad sit for 10–15 minutes for the flavors to meld. You can also chill it in the fridge for an hour before serving if you prefer it cold.
- Garnish with extra feta or pine nuts if desired, and serve.
Tips:
- Add grilled chicken or chickpeas for extra protein if you’d like to make the salad more filling.
- You can use fresh cranberries if you have access to them, but dried cranberries are typically used for their sweetness.
- Swap balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you prefer a different flavor.
This Spinach Pasta Salad with Feta and Cranberries is perfect as a side dish for barbecues, potlucks, or just as a light lunch or dinner! Enjoy