Nutritious Spinach Pasta Salad with Feta and Cranberries Recipe
A refreshing and nutritious spinach pasta salad featuring whole wheat pasta, fresh baby spinach, tangy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy almonds, all tossed in a zesty lemon-honey Dijon dressing. Perfect for a healthy lunch, side dish, or light dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz whole wheat pasta (rotini or bowtie)
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Prepare the whole wheat pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta down.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, fresh baby spinach, crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and finely diced red onion. Toss gently to mix the ingredients evenly.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently again to ensure all components are coated well with the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and serve chilled.
- Serve and Adjust: Before serving, toss the salad once more, taste, and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
Notes
- Storage: Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- Variations: Enhance the protein content by adding grilled chicken slices or chickpeas as preferred.
Keywords: spinach pasta salad, whole wheat pasta salad, feta cheese salad, healthy pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, spinach salad with cranberries
