The fallen leaves won’t be the only source of the loud crunch you hear! The tasty trimmings of Crisp Autumn Day Pasta Salad will not only provide a cheerfully noisy eating experience but also lots of festive, fall flavors to bring you that chilly weather joy! The bouncy pasta swirls like a leaf tumbling on the wind with some fresh spinach and crispy celery, juicy fruits, and rich feta cheese. A savory, tangy, homemade dressing is drizzled all over to make all the flavors come to life. This pile of nutritious goodness will basically be asking to be jumped into… with your fork, of course! Celebrate all the tastes and sounds of fall with Crisp Autumn Day Pasta Salad!
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2-4 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon poppyseeds
- sea salt, to taste
- freshly cracked pepper, to taste
For the salad:
- 1 1/2 cups small pasta, uncooked
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 large Granny Smith Apple, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup celery, chopped
- 1 (15-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- feta cheese, to taste and crumbled
Directions
Step 1 –In a mason jar, add the apple cider vinegar, the white wine vinegar, the sugar, the paprika, the onion powder, the olive oil, the poppyseeds, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 2 –Seal the jar and shake vigorously until the dressing combines.
Step 3 –In a large pot of generously salted water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
Step 4 –Drain the pasta and immediately toss it with a few tablespoons of the dressing.
Step 5 –Chill the pasta until completely cooled.
Step 6 –In a large bowl, toss the chilled pasta and the spinach.
Step 7 –In another bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice.
Step 8 –Add the celery, the lemon juice-tossed apples, the oranges, the dried cranberries, and the pecans to the pasta mixture.
Step 9 –Drizzle the salad with the remaining dressing and toss to combine.
Step 10 –Top the salad with the cheese.
Step 11 –Serve immediately.