Chilled Strawberry Pasta Salad

This strawberry based salad is loaded with flavour and fresh greens

Wine Match: Light Pinot Noir

Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:  15 minutes for pasta

Ingredients

For Balsamic Dressing

  • 1 cup (250ml) good olive oil
  • 1/3 cup (85ml) aged balsamic vinegar
  • 1/3 x 250g punnet Victorian Strawberries, washed and hulled
  • cracked black pepper

For Salad

  • 2 cups cooked penne pasta, cooled
  • 2/3 x 250g punnet Victorian Strawberries, washed and hulled
  • 4 large buffalo mozzarella, torn (or large bocconcini)
  • 2 cups baby spinach leaves, washed
  • ½ cup basil leaves, washed and torn

Method

  1. Whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Puree the dressing strawberries and pass through a sieve, then whisk into the oil mixture. Taste and season with cracked pepper.
  2. To prepare salad, toss pasta, strawberries, mozzarella and spinach in a large bowl with dressing. Allow to sit for 10 minutes then serve on a large plate. Top with torn basil leaves.