I have a confession?. I used to think fruit in salads was disgusting. I thought it was the weirdest concept. Well as I got older I got braver and my taste buds matured and I decided to give it a try. Well the rest is history and now I?m obsessed. Enter this pasta salad. It?s chock full of fresh fruit, bacon (because everything is better with bacon), cashews, cheese and a sweet and tangy orange poppyseed dressing.
This salad is perfect for that summer bbq and is the perfect balance of healthy and indulgent. It’s light and doesn?t make you feel crappy after eating it. Feel free to switch out some of the fruit for something different like grapes, apples, even blackberries would work! I prefer this salad with blue cheese for an extra punch of flavor but feel free to use a more mild cheese if you aren?t a blue cheese fan.
Ingredients:
8 oz cooked penne pasta
6 oz package fresh spinach
1 cup strawberries sliced
1 cup blueberries
1/2 medium red onion diced
1 cup salted cashews
12 oz bacon cooked and chopped
1 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded mozzarella
For the sauce:
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1/3 cup white balsamic
1/3 cup mayo
3 tbsp orange juice
1 tablespoons honey
1 tbsp poppyseeds
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Combine sauce ingredients and whisk until smooth.
- In a large bowl add the cooled and drained pasta, diced strawberries, blueberries, cashews, spinach, bacon, onion and cheese. Toss until mixed evenly.
- When ready to serve, pour sauce over everything and stir until combined. Serve immediately. Store leftovers in the fridge and eat within 48 hours.
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