Spinach Salad with Penne

Name: Spinach Salad with Penne
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 9 servings.
Ingredients: 1 cup uncooked whole wheat penne pasta; 1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach; 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 3/4 cup reduced-fat balsamic vinaigrette; 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted; 8 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

Loaded with fresh greens, this delightful pasta salad fits the season perfectly. Lynnell Lowney - Waunakee, Wisconsin

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked whole wheat penne pasta
1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup reduced-fat balsamic vinaigrette
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
8 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water.
In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cheese, vinaigrette, pine nuts, basil and pasta. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 144 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.

Originally published as Spinach and Penne Pasta Salad in Healthy Cooking April/May 2010

Reviews

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Average Rating:

emcreel1

Mar 30, 2011

This is a great salad. I did not use the wheat penne, but that was just a personal preference.
JoyNavara

Mar 22, 2011

It looks like would be good. I have use penne for alot of different thing,but never thought oa salad.
patricia diane

Mar 19, 2011

I have a very similar recipe using escarole. Using olive oil you toast the pine nuts and remove. Put garlic in and saute till translucent add the escarole and saute till it starts to wilt. Add the balsalmic. I will try it with spinach.