Name: Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 12 ounces (4 cups) bow tie pasta, dry; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; 1/4 cup red onion, diced; 1 cup bocconcini cheese, halved; 1 cup spinach, packed, finely chopped; 1/2 cup basil, finely chopped; 3 tablespoons pesto; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 lemon, juiced; Salt; Black pepper

Nothing says summer like a good pasta salad and this Italian-inspired bow tie pasta salad is the perfect addition to any summer BBQ or potluck. Filled with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and bocconcini cheese, and covered in pesto, this healthy pasta salad recipe is packed full of fiber, healthy fats, and flavor.

While pasta is often not considered a healthy food, I can assure you it is. Made with flour, water, and salt, pasta is a staple of Italian cuisine that can be traced back as far as the 4th century B.C. Nutritionally speaking, pasta is a source of complex carbohydrates and fiber and, while it can be a rich dish depending on what it’s served with, pasta of all shapes and sizes can be included in a healthy and well-balanced diet, especially when it’s paired with fresh veggies like this bow tie pasta salad recipe.

Ingredients for Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Bow Tie Pasta: You can’t make a bow tie pasta salad without bow tie pasta! This flat noodle, also known as farfalle pasta, is a great shape for a cold pasta salad as its size is the perfect match for chopped veggies.
Spinach: Raw, baby spinach adds a punch of green and fiber to this pasta salad. If you don’t have spinach, arugula would also pair nicely with this recipe.
Tomato: While the recipe calls for cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes or cubed whole tomatoes would work just as well.
Basil: A bit of basil or fresh herbs helps to brighten the dish and add a punch of freshness.
Cheese: I opted to use bocconcini cheese, which is small balls of mozzarella cheese, but you could easily use cubed mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, or feta cheese instead.
Dressing: In an effort to keep the dressing quick and easy, I used a combination of fresh pesto, olive oil, and lemon juice to keep with the theme; however, you could any style of Italian vinaigrette that you enjoy. A combination of olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, and Dijon mustard would also make a simple homemade Italian dressing.

While I opted to use tomatoes and spinach as the vegetables in my pasta salad, you can really use any edible raw vegetables and leafy greens that you enjoy. Cucumber, red bell pepper, zucchini, carrots, red onion, green onion, and black olives would all work nicely in this bowtie pasta salad.

Note: If you decide to make this pasta salad in advance, you can easily freshen it with an extra drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and/or a sprinkle of salt and black pepper before serving.

Pasta Salad with Bow Ties

What to Serve with Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is filled with complex carbohydrates, fiber, and healthy fats, therefore, pairing it with a source of protein would help to create a more well-balanced meal. While anything from steak to chicken to fish to tofu will work well as a source of protein, I think grilled lemon pepper chicken thighs, lemon garlic chicken thighs, and pesto baked salmon would pair particularly well.

While pasta salad is often thought of as a side dish, paired with grilled meat or a burger, it works equally well as a main course. In fact, on a hot summer day, a cold pasta salad is a great way to conquer a pasta craving without turning on the stove, not to mention, that it stores incredibly well in the refrigerator making it a great make-ahead meal for a simple lunch or dinner.

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