Raspberry Spinach Feta Pasta Salad (Printable Version)
Vibrant summer pasta with fresh raspberries, spinach, and feta in tangy vinaigrette
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 7 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 1 tsp salt for boiling water
→ Vegetables & Fruit
03 - 3.5 oz baby spinach, washed and dried
04 - 4.5 oz fresh raspberries
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1 small cucumber, diced
→ Cheese & Nuts
07 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
08 - 1 oz toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# Directions:
01 - Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool completely.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
03 - Toss cooled pasta, baby spinach, red onion, cucumber, and half the raspberries in a large salad bowl.
04 - Pour vinaigrette over salad mixture and fold gently to coat all ingredients evenly without crushing raspberries.
05 - Scatter crumbled feta, remaining raspberries, and toasted nuts over the top.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving for optimal flavor and texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of fresh raspberries and savory feta creates that perfect sweet and salty balance that keeps people coming back for seconds
- It comes together in under 30 minutes but looks impressive enough for any summer occasion
02 -
- Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water to remove excess starch, otherwise the salad will become gummy as it sits
- Wait until just before serving to add all the raspberries and feta, or they will start to break down and the colors will muddy
03 -
- If the raspberries are very tart, add an extra teaspoon of honey to balance the dressing
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the raspberries before adding them to enhance their natural sweetness