Description
Autumn apple pasta salad blends crisp apples, tender pasta, and savory herbs into a delightful seasonal dish. Crunchy textures and sweet-tangy flavors make you crave another forkful of this delectable autumn-inspired creation.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients:
Main Ingredients:
- 10 ounces (283 grams) fresh baby spinach
- 1.5 cups (355 milliliters) uncooked pasta
- 2 medium Fuji apples, thinly sliced
Supplementary Ingredients:
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 12 cup (80 grams) dried cranberries
- 12 cup (60 grams) pecans
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 lemon, juiced
Dressing Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) olive oil
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) white wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons (50 grams) sugar
- 14 cup (60 milliliters) orange juice
- 12 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) poppy seeds
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Quickly drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process and cool pasta down.
- Create creamy dressing by blending ingredients thoroughly for 10-15 seconds. Gently fold in poppy seeds and set mixture aside at room temperature.
- Prevent apple slices from oxidizing by coating with fresh lemon juice. Carefully drain excess liquid, then incorporate crisp celery, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans.
- Gently fold cooked pasta with sweet mandarin orange segments, mixing in half of the prepared poppyseed dressing to enhance flavor profile.
- Layer delicate spinach leaves with pasta and fruit mixture. Drizzle remaining dressing across the salad, tossing gently to ensure even distribution. Serve chilled for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Prevent Apple Browning Quickly toss freshly cut apple slices in lemon juice to maintain their crisp, white appearance and prevent oxidation.
- Make Ahead Friendly Prepare pasta and dressing separately, storing them in sealed containers in the refrigerator up to 24 hours before final assembly to maintain optimal texture.
- Dietary Flexibility Easily customize the salad by substituting pecans with sunflower seeds for nut allergies or using gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly options.
- Texture Enhancement Toast pecans briefly in a dry skillet before adding to boost their nutty flavor and create a delightful crunch in the salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg