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Arugula, Spinach, and Mozzarella Pasta Salad
May 29, 2015
May. It’s almost over…and I’ve only done one other post! Sorry! Have you missed the recipes? OK, I’ll assume yes. I read in a friend’s blog recently that May is the busiest month of the year, even over December! And yes…I totally agree.
Between Mother’s Day (my favorite day in May :)), Confirmations, every team and class “end of the school year” celebration, and the general winding down of most every other organized group or volunteer job, this month has flown by and I’m officially ready for summer. And summer means bring on the pasta salads!
This Arugula, Spinach, and Mozzarella Pasta Salad is a combination of everything summer represents. Fresh and bright baby greens, fresh mint, fresh mozzarella, and colorful pasta…tossed in a light and delicious vinaigrette…yum.
My inspiration came from a dish we shared on our trip to Sonoma last month for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. On the drive up through Sonoma Valley, we stopped at a landmark restaurant, The Fremont Diner, a casual, unassuming dive on the side of the road amongst acres of farmland. (see selfie below!) We’d heard, “You have to go there!” And yum, yum, it did not disappoint.
For a place so laid back, I wasn’t expecting this quality of food. But wait, once you remember you are in California, you must make a “foodie” radar adjustment. It this state, regular looking places are churning out all kinds of current, hip, farm to table food, and making it look effortless. And the stakes are high.
The Diner’s dish was an appetizer starring Burrata (a mozzarella with a solid mozzarella outside and a creamy mozzarella center), fresh beautiful micro greens (hello CA!), pea shoots, and sugar snaps. It was tossed with a tangy vinaigrette and served with buttered grilled fresh bread. Enjoyed outside on a gravel patio under a colorful picnic table and umbrella on a perfectly sunny, but not too hot, typical California day. What could be better than that?
Back in Nashville, I couldn’t get this salad off my mind. I knew it would translate into one of my go-to pasta salads for this season. And we all loved it! I combined ingredients that are readily available here at our grocery stores. It goes like this: baby arugula and baby spinach, fresh mint, green onions, blanched sugar snaps, and Buffalo mozzarella torn into small bites. Vineyard Pasta, grape clusters and leaves, was the perfect choice for the pasta shape and also my “nod” to the great wine country. I created a white wine lemon vinaigrette and just tossed it all together…simple, fresh, and beautiful!
Enjoy summer entertaining and do some California Dreamin’!
PrintArugula, Spinach, and Mozzarella Pasta Salad
Fresh as a sunny summer day! Light and delicious salad with a tangy vinaigrette mixes flavors that will delight your tastebuds!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 7 mins
- Total Time: 27 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 oz. bag of Vineyard Pasta (can substitute any short shape)
- 12 oz. Bufffalo mozzarella, torn into bite size pieces
- 4 oz. baby arugula
- 4 oz. baby spinach, any thick stems removed
- 8 oz. sugar snaps, blanched and sliced diagonally
- 4 scallions, sliced
- 2 oz. fresh mint leaves, julienned
- Vinaigrette
- 6 T. white wine vinegar
- 2 T. fresh lemon juice
- 4 oz (8 Tbs.) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp. dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse with cold water, and toss lightly with olive oil.
- Blanch sugar snaps in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain, and place in a bowl full of ice water, to stop cooking and enhance color! Take about 1/4 of the sugar snaps and carefully expose the peas with a knife. Slice the balance diagonally. The vinaigrette gets trapped in the crevices and tastes great!
- Make vinaigrette by adding all ingredients in a glass jar with lid and shake for one minute. Or combine all ingredients except oil in a food processor. Turn on and add oil slowly until dressing is emulsified. Just takes a few minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste. NOTE: You will not use all the dressing! I use about 3/4 of it for this recipe…save the rest for another salad!
- In a large bowl, combine greens, mint, snaps, and mozzarella. Add dressing and gently toss until thoroughly mixed.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
If making a few hours ahead, keep in fridge. Because our pasta is porous you may need to add additional dressing! The pasta absorbs the vinaigrette.
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This vinaigrette with your vineyard pasta and all of the veggies= Home Run!
Wonderful recipe with all of the green additions to the pasta!
This salad sounds absolutely delicious! The flavors seem like they would all come together just perfect. The shaped pasta would be perfect for those who have little ones at home! This is a must try for me! Thank you!
this looks really good – I will try soon!
omg those peas look so fresh! I can’t wait to make this and try it! Thanks for sharing!
Yum! Perfect summer pasta salad that’s refreshing and healthy!
Wait… “vineyard” pasta… Took me a FEW seconds… It’s GRAPES! LOL
I’d love to have this! #WackyWednesday I’m going to try making it!
This salad screams summer!
Where in the world have I been? These pasta are the cutest thing EVER. This will help me encourage my two year to eat healthier foods.
Thanks Jessee! I agree. Our pasta shapes are fun for all ages.
This sounds so good. I will make this this weekend for sure after I go to market and some fresh greens!
I would definitely devour this! 😉
Thanks for the idea. I’m gonna use it as a base recipe and change it a bit (remove the ingredients family member dislikes). It looks great, too, with such a pretty pasta shape. thnx!
This looks so yummy, light and refreshing! Love that you used the Vineyard pasta!
Now that really looks good! Pinning that recipe and a few others!
Thanks for pinning Linda.
Love this recipe
It looks like the perfect pasta salad for any Summer get together!
oh this looks yummy will be on my side dish for my BBQ
this has my mouth watering, definitely saving this recipe for use later this summer!
That looks delicious, and a lot of the ingredients are growing in my garden!
All your recipes are so creative ..thanks for posting
Yum! I’m printing this one!
Seems like a refreshing dish! #WackyWednesday
This sounds like a perfect dish for the hot summer! So refreshing with all those lovely greens, and you can’t beat pasta and mozzarella!
This looks delish.
looks good, will have to try it
Looks delicious!
The Arugula, Spinach, and Mozzarella Pasta Salad Looks so Amazing!! Now I know what I am having for Lunch today!
can’t wait to try this
Pasta is my favorite food to eat daily.
THIS SALAD LOOKS HEALTHY AND I WOULD LOVE TO TRY THIS RECIPE……….#WackyWednesday
Yum!!! Healthy and delicious summer dish and love that you added sugar snaps! My grandpa and I used to love picking out fresh pea pods from his garden and incorporate them in different recipes. I need to add this one on my list!
This looks deliciously amazing!
Great summer dish!
You’ve really made this salad look and sound delicious.
Looks so delicious..Love to try it! 🙂
What a approrite dish looks delicious for National Italian Day
so yummy I love it
This looks light, refreshing, and delicious! Right now I have to settle for a grilled cheese, but can’t wait to try this!
I was looking for a pasta and greens recipe for this week! Thanks so much for this one, which I plan to try right away!
Looks yummy…..might have to try this tomorrow…..
This looks amazing 🙂 Yum!
I love summer pasta salads and this one looks delicious, Can’t wait to try it,
Looks delicious, definitely good for the summer!
Oh my goodness, YES!!! That looks so delicious and something I must try!
we’re trying different takes on salads this summer, enjoying the arugula and baby spinach mix already, can’t wait to try your recipe #WackyWednesday
I would leave out the arugula, looks yummy then.
Great and perfect healthy dish for summer..Can’t wait to try for the family..kids would love the colorful salad..YUMMY 🙂
Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe! Hubby and I are trying so hard to stay away from “bad” carbs, and even lower our total carb intake. He has diabetes and it is really effecting his whole body. PLUS I can certainly afford to loose some weight. This recipe looks and sound delicious, and I believe hubby will be satisfied with it. Thank you again!! #WackyWednesday <3
That looks so good! I’m definitely going to make it for my family. Hopefully the kids will like it too. I am always trying to find a way to get them to eat anything green, lol.
looks really good and healthy fresh
Thanks for sharing this, it looks delicious 🙂 #WackyWednesday
Oh how yummy, refreshing and good-for-me this looks. I am saving in my recipe bookmark
wow this looks so yummy I love peas
Very tasty stuff here!
This looks delicious. Perfect for summer entertaining
I love how light and summery this looks! Perfect to take to a bbq!
Looks delicious and love snow peas for the extra crunchy.
Definitely trying this it looks delicious
I’d omit argula but love the rest.
Looks perfect for summer!
This recipe looks amazing! YUM! Can’t wait to try it.
This recipe looks so fresh and delicious! I will definitely be making this! I love Buffalo mozzarella and sugar snaps! Yum! Thank you for sharing another amazing recipe!
So colorful and fresh looking!
This looks yummy!
this looks delicious
Thanks as i will for sure make this for my family reunion coming up!
A great summer dish!
Looks delicious
This is definitely going on my ‘to make ‘ list!
Looks delicious. Thanks for a great salad recipe!
Looks so good!!
Looks like a great recipe for summer salad!!
Sounds amazing!