Candy strawberries, salty feta cheese, tender pasta, crisp romaine lettuce, avocado, sliced almonds, and a tangy selfmade poppy seed dressing come collectively on this recent and colourful pasta salad. Strawberry feta pasta salad is ideal for summer season cookouts, picnics, potlucks, and straightforward weeknight dinners. Be happy so as to add grilled hen, shrimp, salmon, or chickpeas on prime!
I initially printed this recipe in 2017 and have since added new pictures and extra success ideas.
For those who’ve by no means paired strawberries with feta earlier than, you’re in for a deal with.
The sweetness of the berries and the salty, tangy feta stability one another superbly, whereas crunchy romaine, creamy avocado, and toasted almonds add loads of texture.
Each chunk is recent, flavorful, and satisfying!
In contrast to heavier mayonnaise-based pasta salads, this model will get its creamy texture from a easy selfmade Greek yogurt poppy seed dressing. It’s mild, tangy, and filled with taste. (I apply it to recent salads on a regular basis!)
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Feta Pasta Salad
- Made with recent, seasonal strawberries
- Creamy Greek yogurt dressing (no mayonnaise)
- Prepared in about half-hour
- Straightforward to make forward for events and cookouts
- Stuffed with contrasting flavors and textures
- Good alongside grilled hen, burgers, steak, or salmon
Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Elements
This dressing is certainly one of my favourite elements of the recipe. As an alternative of counting on mayonnaise, it makes use of Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier taste whereas nonetheless delivering loads of creaminess.
- Greek Yogurt: You need to use any form of plain Greek yogurt—nonfat 0%, lowfat, or complete milk. The total-fat sort provides you with the richest and creamiest style.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: For those who don’t have any, you may substitute white vinegar or recent lemon juice.
- Olive Oil: Additional-virgin olive oil is the opposite major part of this dressing.
- Honey: Gives a contact of sweetness.
- Salt: Key taste enhancer.
- Dijon Mustard: Don’t fear, you gained’t style a lot mustard right here. It provides a bit of zip of taste, however its actual job is to emulsify. What does this imply? It helps the oil and vinegar mix collectively right into a clean, creamy dressing that coats each chunk.
- Poppy Seeds: Provides a delicate crunch!
Pasta Salad Elements You Want
- Pasta: Select a pasta form with loads of ridges or curves to catch the dressing. Rotini, fusilli, cavatappi, gemelli, or farfalle (bowtie) are all nice selections.
- Romaine Lettuce: For the freshest-tasting outcomes, chop the romaine your self quite than shopping for a bag of pre-chopped lettuce. Romaine hearts present the crunchiest chunk.
- Recent Strawberries: Recent strawberries are the star of this recipe. In case your strawberries are particularly ripe, gently pat them dry after washing to stop extra moisture from watering down the dressing.
- Feta Cheese: Feta gives the salty, creamy distinction to the candy strawberries and crunchy lettuce. Every time potential, purchase a block of feta packed in brine and crumble it your self. It has a creamier texture and brisker taste than the pre-crumbled selection.
- Avocado: Ripe avocados add a buttery, creamy texture that enhances the candy strawberries and tangy feta. Search for avocados that really feel barely mushy when gently squeezed; they need to give just a bit with out feeling squishy.
- Sliced Almonds: Almonds add a gentle nutty taste and one other crunchy texture distinction. You probably have time, toast them earlier than utilizing, for enhanced taste.
Want a nut-free choice? Be happy to skip the almonds or change with sunflower seeds. Simply as tasty!
Let’s Put it All Collectively
The method is easy and simple. Whereas the pasta is cooking, prep/slice the opposite components.
After draining the pasta, rinse it briefly underneath cool water to cease the cooking and assist it cool extra rapidly. Drain properly and funky fully earlier than assembling the salad.
For the dressing, merely whisk all of the components collectively till clean. Refrigerate till wanted:
Add the pasta, romaine, strawberries, feta, avocado, and almonds to a big bowl. Toss with the dressing till evenly coated. Cowl and refrigerate for not less than half-hour earlier than serving.
For those who’re serving the salad inside 2 hours, go forward and toss within the avocado with the opposite components. Nevertheless, in the event you’re making the salad farther prematurely, wait so as to add the avocado till simply earlier than serving to stop it from browning and turning into too mushy.
3 Success Ideas
This recipe is splendidly easy, however these small particulars make a noticeable distinction.
- Salt the Pasta Water: That is your solely alternative to season the pasta itself. The water ought to style salty… assume “salted soup.” It provides the completed salad rather more taste than seasoning on the finish alone.
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook dinner the pasta simply till al dente. It should proceed to melt barely because it absorbs a number of the dressing whereas chilling.
- Make-Forward Tip: If totally assembled forward of time, reserve a small quantity of dressing to stir in simply earlier than serving. Pasta naturally absorbs dressing because it sits, and this little refresh helps restore its creamy texture!
Serving Solutions
As a aspect dish, this strawberry feta pasta salad can be nice alongside any of the principle dishes on my listing of 20+ recent summer season dinner concepts.
Black bean burgers for positive!
And in the event you’re trying to flip it right into a satisfying meal, prime it with grilled hen, salmon, or shrimp. Or attempt chickpeas for a vegetarian choice.
With its vibrant colours and number of textures, this salad is at all times a success at any large-gathering event. The combo is a bit surprising, however at all times welcomed!
Useful Pasta Salad Instruments
Description
Candy strawberries, salty feta cheese, tender pasta, crisp romaine lettuce, avocado, sliced almonds, and a tangy selfmade poppy seed dressing come collectively on this recent and colourful pasta salad. Strawberry feta pasta salad is ideal for summer season cookouts, picnics, potlucks, and straightforward weeknight dinners. Be happy so as to add grilled hen, shrimp, salmon, or chickpeas on prime!
- Cook dinner pasta in line with package deal instructions till al dente. Drain and rinse underneath cool water, then put aside to chill.
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk collectively the Greek yogurt, vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, mustard, and poppy seeds till clean and mixed.
- Assemble the salad: In a big bowl, mix the cooked pasta, romaine, strawberries, feta, avocado, and almonds. (And elective chickpeas and/or cooked hen, shrimp, or salmon, if utilizing.) Pour the dressing over prime and stir gently till the whole lot is evenly coated. Refrigerate for not less than half-hour earlier than serving. For make-ahead directions, see Be aware.
- Cowl tightly and retailer within the fridge for as much as 2 days.
Notes
- Make-Forward Directions: This is a wonderful recipe for entertaining as a result of a number of the prep will be accomplished forward. As much as 1 day forward, prepare dinner and funky the pasta, put together the dressing, and chop the romaine and strawberries. Refrigerate the whole lot individually. half-hour to a few hours earlier than serving, assemble the salad and toss with the dressing. For those who’re assembling the salad greater than a pair hours prematurely, wait so as to add the avocado till simply earlier than serving to stop it from browning and turning into too mushy. Additionally, if the salad sits for a number of hours, reserve a small quantity of dressing to stir in earlier than serving. Pasta naturally absorbs dressing because it sits, and this little refresh helps restore its creamy texture.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Massive Pot | Colander | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Silicone Spatula
- Pasta: Select a pasta form with loads of ridges or curves to catch the dressing. Rotini, fusilli, cavatappi, gemelli, or farfalle (bowtie) are all nice selections.
- Greek Yogurt: You need to use any fats content material, from 0% (nonfat) to complete (full fats).
- Romaine: For the freshest-tasting outcomes, chop the romaine your self quite than shopping for a bag of pre-chopped lettuce. Romaine hearts present the crunchiest chunk.
