Description
Spinach and Strawberry Pasta Salad is a refreshing and colorful dish combining sweet strawberries, smoky turkey bacon, creamy plant-based cheese, and vibrant spinach tossed with a tangy, silky dressing. Perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner, it offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures with a quick and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Greens
- 2 cups rotini pasta (whole wheat or regular), cooked al dente
- 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped if large leaves
Fresh Produce
- 1 cup ripe strawberries, sliced
Protein and Cheese
- 6 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
- 3/4 cup plant-based cheese, soft and creamy
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey (natural)
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the rotini pasta in salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to drain completely.
- Prepare the Smoked Turkey Bacon: Cook the smoked turkey bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to drain excess oil, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice the Strawberries and Chop Spinach: Wash and slice the fresh strawberries into thin pieces. Roughly chop the spinach if the leaves are large to keep bite-size pieces.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar (natural), olive oil, honey (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, spinach, strawberries, turkey bacon, and plant-based cheese. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use the freshest strawberries and spinach for best flavor and color.
- Add dressing gradually to avoid soggy pasta and maintain fresh texture.
- Drain pasta thoroughly and cool to prevent wateriness in the salad.
- Adjust the amount of plant-based cheese to your creaminess preference.
- Toss gently to avoid bruising strawberries and wilting spinach.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: spinach, strawberry, pasta salad, plant-based cheese, smoked turkey bacon, quick recipe, healthy salad, vegetarian pasta salad
