Feta & Cranberry Penne Salad (Printable Version)

Bright pasta salad with feta, cranberries and walnuts, dressed in a tangy orange vinaigrette over fresh spinach.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta Base

01 - 225g penne pasta
02 - 2 cups baby spinach

→ Toppings

03 - 120g feta cheese, crumbled
04 - 80g dried cranberries
05 - 60g toasted walnuts, chopped
06 - 60g red onion, thinly sliced

→ Orange Vinaigrette

07 - 60ml fresh orange juice
08 - 30ml olive oil
09 - 15g honey
10 - 5g Dijon mustard
11 - 2g salt
12 - 1g black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, baby spinach, and thinly sliced red onion.
04 - Drizzle the orange vinaigrette over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Notes:

01 - For best results, prepare this salad shortly before serving to maintain the crispness of the spinach.
02 - The salad can be made up to 1 day ahead without dressing. Add vinaigrette just before serving.