Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Spinach-Pasta Salad


Here's a quick and light side dish to make for your next picnic or outdoor gathering.  Healthy baby spinach, mini bow-tie pasta, red onion and a tasty vinaigrette are all the ingredients you need.


My monthly "meet-up" with the Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club is a menu for a Summerfest Beach Party or a summer picnic.  These Cooking Light recipes would be perfect to celebrate the season of summer.  


Click here for the Spinach-Pasta Salad recipe on Myrecipes.com 


Spinach-Pasta Salad
Recipe by Cooking Light 





Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mini farfalle (bow-tie pasta)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 cups baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion

Preparation

  • 1. Cook mini farfalle according to package directions. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain.
  • 2. Combine olive oil and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add garlic vinaigrette, spinach, and onion to pasta.

What else is on on the Summer Beach Party menu?  See the other recipes below and check out the details from the rest of the group.

Jerry (Jerry's Thoughts, Musings and Rants) brought the appetizer - Grilled Pepper Poppers
Roz (La Bella Vita) came with a salad - Panzannella with Tomato, Bacon and Basil Salad
Val (More than Burnt Toast) provided the main dish - Oven Fried Chicken
Sandi (Whistlestop Cafe Cooking) did a side dish - Orange Flavored Couscous
Mary Ann (Meet Me in the Kitchen) brought the dessert - Lemonade Layer Cake


Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!


Enjoy!

Mom's Cooking Club Lesson:  Dress the salad just before serving to keep the spinach fresh and from getting wilted.  And if you are not a fan of red onion, leave it out.  It will still be a flavorful side dish.  

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5 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This is a light and refreshing salad Jamie, perfect for a summer picnic.

Mary Ann said...

This salad looks like the perfect side dish. I love the combo of the bowtie pasta and the spinach!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

This looks great for our beach picnic.
I'm thinking a lite prosecco might be just what we need.

Anonymous said...

This turned out so well Jamie - I'd never have thought abut combining a pasta salad with spinach. Perfect for this time of year.

Barbara Bakes said...

I like that you loaded it up with spinach. I need to do that more often. It sounds great.

 
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