Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Italian-inspired bow tie pasta salad with spinach and tomatoes.

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

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 fibre 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, 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 fibre 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 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 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 dressing that you enjoy.

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, and/or a sprinkle of salt and pepper before serving.

Pasta Salad with Bow Ties

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, it stores incredibly well in the fridge making it a great make-ahead meal for a simple lunch or dinner.

More Healthy Pasta Salad Recipes:

• Mediterranean Orzo Salad
• Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Bow Tie Pasta Salad

• Author: Stephanie Kay
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian

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Description

This colourful bow tie pasta salad recipe works well as a simple side dish for a summer BBQ or as a main course for a light lunch or dinner. Plus, it keeps well in the fridge so it makes for a great meal prep idea.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 340 grams (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
• Pepper

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Instructions

1. In a large pot, cook the bow tie pasta in heavily salted water as per package directions or until slightly past al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta, toss it with a little olive oil (to prevent it from sticking together) and let it cool to room temp (you can run it under cold water briefly, before adding the oil, to encourage it if you’re in a rush).
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl or jar, add the pesto, olive oil, and lemon juice and whisk to combine.
3. Once the pasta has cooled, in a large bowl add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bocconcini cheese, spinach, and basil, and stir to combine.
4. Cover with the dressing, season generously with salt and pepper, and toss gently until everything is well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
5. Once prepared, the pasta salad can be served immediately or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 236 calories
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Fat: 8 grams
• Carbohydrates: 35 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Protein: 7 grams

Keywords: bow tie pasta salad recipes, pasta salad bow tie recipes, pasta salad with bow ties recipes