Spring Pasta Strawberries Arugula Feta (Printable)

Strawberries, feta, and arugula tossed with pasta create a vibrant spring salad—ideal for casual meals.

# What you need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta, such as fusilli or farfalle
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Vegetables & Greens

03 - 3.5 oz fresh arugula
04 - 9 oz strawberries, hulled and quartered
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

→ Cheese

07 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon honey
11 - Juice of 1/2 small lemon
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts, optional

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, following package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
02 - In a large salad bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to form a balanced dressing.
03 - Add the cooled pasta to the bowl and toss until evenly coated with the dressing.
04 - Gently fold in arugula, strawberries, diced cucumber, and spring onions. Toss lightly to blend.
05 - Add crumbled feta cheese and chopped basil to the salad. Toss delicately to distribute throughout.
06 - Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts if desired. Serve immediately or chill for up to one hour prior to serving.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Pasta salad never tasted so lively — strawberries add a surprise burst of flavor that feels like spring in every bite.
  • The mix of creamy feta and leafy arugula makes it satisfying without heaviness, and even picky eaters tend to ask for seconds.
02 -
  • If you skip rinsing the pasta, it can become sticky and soak up too much dressing — I learned that firsthand with a clumpy bowl.
  • Letting the salad chill for a little while allows the flavors to mingle, but too long and the strawberries can get soggy.
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife for strawberries so they don’t squash — it keeps the salad looking stunning.
  • Mixing the dressing with a touch of zest from the lemon is the detail guests notice but can’t quite identify.
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