Discover the Perfect Pasta Salad: A vibrant dish brimming with fresh flavors, ideal for any gathering. This delicious pasta salad, featuring tender artichokes, fresh spinach, sweet mandarins, and more, is poised to become your new favorite. It pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken marinated to perfection and a creamy spinach artichoke dip, creating a memorable meal the entire family will cherish.
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The Ultimate Perfect Pasta Salad for Summer
When summer rolls around, there’s one dish that consistently graces our table and gets everyone excited: a perfectly chilled pasta salad. It’s an indispensable staple in our home, evolving into countless variations for every backyard barbecue, potluck, and family get-together. Given that grilling becomes our primary method of cooking during the warmer months, you can imagine just how many delightful pasta salads we end up preparing!
Today, I’m thrilled to share a pasta salad recipe that transcends the typical side dish. While it excels as a vibrant accompaniment to any meal, it’s so substantial and satisfying that it can easily stand alone as a light yet fulfilling dinner. Imagine adding some leftover grilled chicken or a handful of chickpeas; this Artichoke Pasta Salad transforms into an incredible, wholesome meal that truly hits the spot.
This amazing pasta salad is truly *loaded* with an array of wholesome and delicious ingredients. We’re talking about tender artichoke hearts, fresh baby spinach, juicy Cutie mandarins, crisp bell peppers, ripe cherry tomatoes, crunchy walnuts, and savory feta cheese. What truly makes these fresh flavors sing is a simple, elegant dressing that allows each component to shine without overpowering the natural taste. This thoughtful combination makes it a standout Spinach Mandarin Pasta Salad that promises both flavor and texture in every bite.
The inspiration for this particular pasta salad originated from an unforgettable experience just a few weeks ago: an incredible opportunity to visit an Ocean Mist artichoke farm. This exceptional event was meticulously organized by Safeway, and I must say, they didn’t miss a single detail. Everything was executed flawlessly, from the educational tour to the exquisite culinary delights. As a passionate gardener and someone who deeply appreciates farm-to-table experiences, this tour was profoundly inspiring and personally enriching for me.
It was absolute heaven, you guys. Pure bliss.
For those of you who have been long-time readers, you’re well aware of my profound passion for gardening. Although I reside in the suburbs and have limited space, trust me when I say I maximize every inch of what I have. I’ve even successfully planted an artichoke plant before, harvesting several beautiful artichokes from it. Unfortunately, its life was tragically cut short when a neighbor’s gardener mistook it for a weed and, well, brutally slaughtered it. <
Walking through the vast artichoke fields and seeing all those magnificent plants, each bearing beautiful artichokes, was an incredibly rewarding experience. I learned so much about their cultivation, from planting to harvest, gaining a deeper appreciation for this unique vegetable.
My visit wasn’t just limited to touring a working artichoke farm; I also had the unique opportunity to harvest my own artichokes, plucking them fresh from the plant. This hands-on experience was followed by an exquisite lunch featuring Ocean Mist artichokes, sweet Cuties citrus, elegant Chandon sparkling wine, and a delightful assortment of O Organics and other premium Safeway products. Yes, I admit, I was utterly spoiled, and I know it! The table setting was absolutely gorgeous, the company was fantastic, and I’m not ashamed to confess that I practically licked my plate clean, savoring every last bite. During the event, I also picked up some fantastic tips from Ocean Mist on how to perfectly cook artichokes in an Instant Pot—a total game-changer! (You can find detailed instructions on how to cook artichokes in an Instant Pot in the recipe notes below.)
Safeway presented us bloggers with an exciting challenge: to create a unique recipe at home using Ocean Mist artichokes, Sun Pacific Cuties, and Chandon sparkling wine. Challenge accepted, and the result is this Perfect Pasta Salad!
Having always lived in California, artichokes have been a beloved part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom absolutely adored them and frequently prepared them for our family. Our usual ritual involved dipping the tender leaves into mayonnaise, but the truth is, the possibilities for dipping sauces are endless: from simple melted butter or rich olive oil to creamy aioli or various flavored mayonnaises—virtually anything works!
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying artichokes prepared in countless ways, and each method seems to outdo the last. Whether they’re grilled to smoky perfection, braised until wonderfully tender, roasted to bring out their nutty flavor, or simply steamed, all are fantastic options. Feel free to choose the cooking method that best suits your preference and available time.
For this specific pasta salad recipe, I opted to steam the artichokes until they were perfectly tender. Once cooked, I carefully removed the tough outer petals until I reached the tender, edible heart. To prepare them for the salad, simply remove the fibrous choke, then cut the soft inner petals and the fleshy part of the heart into bite-sized pieces. This ensures that every forkful of salad is a delightful blend of textures and flavors.
The entire salad comes together remarkably quickly, resulting in a dish that is both vibrant and visually stunning—truly the epitome of a Perfect Pasta Salad!
I absolutely adore how the sweet Cuties mandarins, a long-time favorite snack of my boys, and the crisp bell pepper introduce a delightful touch of natural sweetness to this otherwise savory salad. This balance creates a complex flavor profile that keeps every bite interesting. The walnuts add a wonderful, satisfying crunch, providing a pleasant contrast to the softer ingredients. Of course, you can easily swap them for any nut of your choosing—pecans, for instance, would be particularly delicious and add a rich, buttery note.
Choosing the right pasta shape is key for a great pasta salad. Opt for a shape that is easy to pick up with a fork and can hold onto the dressing and other ingredients effectively, such as penne, bow tie (farfalle), or rigatoni. For this particular salad, I prefer my pasta to be a bit larger than traditional macaroni, as it provides a more substantial bite and beautifully showcases the other ingredients.
The salad dressing is deceptively simple yet incredibly flavorful. It’s crafted from high-quality extra virgin olive oil, the bright, tangy juice squeezed from Cutie mandarins, and a splash of Chandon sparkling wine. This unique combination creates a magical synergy, delivering a light, zesty, and subtly effervescent dressing that truly elevates the entire dish. I used a Chandon mini bottle for the recipe, and I even had enough left over to enjoy a lovely glass of wine with my dinner—a perfect pairing!
You can conveniently find all the premium ingredients needed for this Perfect Pasta Salad recipe at your local Safeway. For even greater ease, consider ordering them from the comfort of your home using Safeway Home Delivery via Instacart. It’s a fantastic way to save time and ensure you have everything you need for this delightful dish.
- Use promo code TENFREE to get $10 Off + free delivery on your first online order when you spend $35 or more* at delivery.safeway.com
- Disclaimer: *Service through and subject to the terms and conditions of Safeway’s third-party delivery provider, Instacart. Requires Instacart account. Special pricing & fees may apply. Subject to Instacart’s minimum purchase requirements. Service available in select areas. Enter your zip code online to find if service is available in your location. Offer limited to first-time Instacart users. Minimum order of $35 before taxes, fees, discounts, deposits required. Find additional terms on Safeway and Instacart. Expires 6/30/2018. Other delivery options available. For pricing, fees and terms, visit Safeway.
How to Make a Perfect Pasta Salad
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Rating: 5 from 1 vote
Perfect Pasta Salad
Perfect Pasta Salad is loaded with all of your favorites! A great addition to any meal, this delicious pasta salad is made with artichokes, spinach, mandarins and more! Great for summer BBQs, potlucks and parties!
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Trish – Mom On Timeout
Ingredients
Main Salad
- 12 oz dry pasta, cooked (bow tie, penne, rigatoni, anything you like)
- 8 oz baby spinach
- 5 mandarins, peeled and segmented
- 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 small English cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup walnut halves or pieces
- 3 oz feta cheese crumbles
Salad Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp mandarin juice
- 3 tbsp white wine (such as Chandon sparkling wine)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, baby spinach, mandarin segments, chopped artichoke hearts, thinly sliced red onion, diced English cucumber, chopped red bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and feta cheese crumbles.
- For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, mandarin juice, white wine, salt, pepper, and dijon mustard until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This salad tastes even better after a little time in the fridge!
Notes
How To Cook Artichokes in an Instant Pot
Add 1 cup of water, 2 to 3 smashed garlic cloves, 1 or 2 lemon slices, and 1 bay leaf to your Instant Pot.
Place the steamer basket inside the Instant Pot.
Trim the artichokes (cut off the top inch and any tough outer leaves) and rub them with a lemon wedge to prevent browning.
Place the trimmed artichokes in the steamer basket, stem side up.
Close the lid and set the vent to “sealing”. Press “manual”, ensure it is set to high pressure (which is usually the default), and then set the timer for 10 minutes.
Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the artichokes cook, then carefully turn the vent to “venting” for a quick steam release.
Remove the lid, and carefully take out the artichokes using tongs.
Peel off the petals until you get to the tender inner leaves and the artichoke heart. Carefully remove the fibrous choke (the fuzzy part) and chop the tender heart into bite-sized pieces for your salad.
Don’t throw away the outer petals! They are still delicious. Dip them in your favorite sauce and enjoy!
More Delicious Salad Recipes to Explore!
Strawberry Salad with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Mint
Creamy Cilantro Lime Southwestern Pasta Salad
Ambrosia Salad
Best Ever Broccoli Salad
Three Bean Wild Rice Salad
Mojito Fruit Salad
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Disclosure: This recipe is proudly sponsored by Safeway. We extend our sincere gratitude for supporting the brands that make Mom On Timeout possible!