Looking for a summer salad recipe that is full of flavor? Try making Spinach Penne Salad!
In my (very large) family, we do monthly family birthdays. If your birthday falls in April, you get to celebrate with all of the other April birthdays. The kids will have their own separate party with their friends but the family party is a joint endeavor! So, last Sunday we did the April birthdays and one of my nephews (in Kindergarten) requested this salad. And since I volunteered to bring a salad (and I love this one) I said sure I will make a Spinach & Penne Salad!
To make the dressing, I used fresh basil, olive oil and garlic powder.
Chop the basil.
Put the chopped basil, olive oil and garlic powder in a bowl. Mix together, cover and store in the fridge to let the flavors blend. I just learned that this called pistou…it is like pesto but it doesn’t contain pine nuts.
When you are ready to mix the salad together, add mayo to the pistou.
Put the spinach, penne and dressing in a large bowl.
Mix together, top with Parmesan and enjoy!
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder or 1 clove garlic
- 1 bunch basil tops - chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 6 oz baby spinach
- 3 cups penne - cooked
- Parmesan
- Mix together olive oil, garlic powder and basil.
- Cover and place in fridge overnight or until ready to serve.
- Remove dressing from fridge and stir in mayonnaise.
- Mix together spinach, penne and dressing.
- Top with Parmesan.
Marlene Skinner says
want to make this but how much is ” one bunch ” of basil.?? I have a huge plant of it.. thax
Deb Foster says
I am enjoying reading all your yummy looking recipes and wonderful photos. I am unable to see as to where to do print outs for the recipes. Am I missing something or do you have any suggestions? Many thanks!
Tonia says
Thanks, Deb! My blog used to be in a different format that didn’t allow me to have the printable recipe feature. My new recipes have a button for printing but unfortunately the older ones do not. I am trying to slowly make my way through previous post to update them but it is very time consuming. I’ve added the print feature to this recipe though. In the meantime, I would suggest opening a blank Word document, copying the recipes and pasting them into the document to print. Or let me know if there are some other recipes you would like me to update with the print feature and I will do those right away! Thanks for the feedback!
Holly Lefevre says
I am so darn hungry right now and this looks amazing!
Toodie says
Looks refreshing!
Stephanie @ henry happened says
I am so making this! The basil pistou (?) looks amazing. And what a fun family tradition!
Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted says
Ooh I like the way you guys do birthdays around there, looks fantastic. I always like pasta salads.
Shannah @ Just Us Four says
I like the idea of a family birthday dinner. Too fun! The salad looks super yummy too.
Lindsay says
This sounds delicious! I have got to make this asap! Thanks for sharing!
Lindsay @ Delighted Momma says
My boys would devour this!! Looks so yummy!! What a great summer salad to bring to a BBQ
Anne @ Domesblissity says
Oh yum Tonia! This looks right up my alley. I could eat that warm too. That might be my dinner tomorrow night! ThanksAnne xx