Feta & Cranberry Penne Salad with Orange Vinaigrette Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant penne salad featuring creamy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy toasted walnuts, and fresh baby spinach, all tossed in a zesty homemade orange vinaigrette. Perfect as a light lunch or a delightful side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling and No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Salad
- 8 oz penne pasta
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts, chopped
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
Orange Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, then rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside to prevent sticking.
- Make the Orange Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh orange juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and emulsified, creating a flavorful dressing.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled penne pasta, crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, chopped toasted walnuts, baby spinach, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Dress & Toss: Drizzle the prepared orange vinaigrette over the salad ingredients. Toss gently but thoroughly to evenly coat all components with the dressing, ensuring balanced flavor throughout.
Notes
- For best texture, rinse the pasta with cold water after cooking to cool it quickly and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- To toast walnuts, heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant.
- This salad can be made ahead and refrigerated for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Adjust honey in the dressing to taste depending on the sweetness of your oranges.
- Use gluten-free penne if you require a gluten-free recipe.
Keywords: penne salad, feta cheese salad, cranberry salad, orange vinaigrette, Mediterranean salad, pasta salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad
