15 Minute Florentine Pasta Salad
Elevate your mealtime with this quick and refreshing 15-Minute Florentine Pasta Salad, a vibrant blend of tender penne pasta, crisp baby spinach, juicy cherry tomatoes, and savory Parmesan cheese. Perfect for busy days, this recipe is ready in just minutes, thanks to its simple yet flavorful balsamic garlic dressing infused with olive oil and fresh basil ribbons. Whether served immediately or chilled for later, this light yet satisfying pasta salad makes an ideal dish for picnics, potlucks, or weeknight dinners. Packed with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients and bursting with color, it's a deliciously wholesome choice for enhancing your menu.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 0.5 cups Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
- 0.25 cups fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually about 9-11 minutes, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
While the pasta is cooking, halve the cherry tomatoes and set them aside. Chop the fresh basil leaves into thin ribbons.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
Add the cooked and cooled penne pasta to the bowl. Toss it in the dressing to coat evenly.
Gently fold in the baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese until well combined.
Top the salad with chopped basil leaves for garnish.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours if you prefer it chilled. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
256 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 14.4 g | 18% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.7 g | 19% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 11 mg | 4% | |
| Sodium | 379 mg | 16% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 23.2 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.5 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.0 g | ||
| Protein | 8.7 g | 17% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 157 mg | 12% | |
| Iron | 2.0 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 185 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
