Strawberry Balsamic Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese, Mint, and Toasted Almonds
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Time to read min
20 minutes
10 minutes
4-6
A fresh, savory-sweet pasta salad made with strawberry aged dark balsamic vinegar and basil infused olive oil. It’s inspired by strawberry spinach salad, but made heartier with spiral pasta, creamy goat cheese, crunchy toasted almonds, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
For the pasta salad:
- 12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 small shallot, very thinly sliced
- 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced or torn
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped or torn
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
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1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup strawberry aged dark balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup basil infused olive oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Method
1. Toast the almonds
Place the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3–5 minutes, stirring often, until lightly golden and fragrant. Remove from the pan and let cool.
2. Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cool water just until the pasta is no longer hot. Drain well.
3. Make the vinaigrette
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the strawberry aged dark balsamic vinegar, basil infused olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
4. Dress the pasta
Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add about half of the vinaigrette and toss well so the pasta can absorb some of the flavor while it cools.
5. Assemble the salad
Add the strawberries, baby spinach, shallots, basil, mint, toasted almonds, and goat cheese to the bowl. Pour over the remaining vinaigrette and toss gently until evenly coated.
6. Finish and serve
Taste and adjust with extra salt and pepper if needed. Let the salad sit for 10–15 minutes before serving so the flavors can meld.
***Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature.
Serving Ideas
This pasta salad is hearty enough to enjoy on its own as an entrée, but it also pairs beautifully with:
- Lamb burgers
- Honey-garlic glazed salmon
- Peach balsamic grilled chicken
Optional Tips
- For extra freshness, add a few whole small basil leaves on top before serving.
- If making ahead, keep the spinach, almonds, and goat cheese separate and fold them in just before serving.
- For a little extra tang, add a small squeeze of lemon juice to the vinaigrette.
