Cherry Almond Pasta Salad

Cherry Almond Pasta Salad

This is one of my favorite pasta salads inspired by a recipe from Plate Magazine. It never fails to please a crowd. This amount serve about 10-12 as a side dish.

  • 1 Lbs. Fusilli Pasta, cooked al dente and shocked in ice water and drained
  • 1 1/2 Cups Dried Tart Cherries, coarsely chopped
  • 3/4 Cup Slivered Almonds, toasted
  • 2 ea Leeks, julienned and braised
  • 1 Cup Feta Cheese (Greek, not French), crumbled
  • 3/4 Cup Poppy Seed Dressing (recipe below)
  • 1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt, Greek Style
  • Mix yogurt and poppy seed dressing in large bowl.
  • Add remaining ingredients and toss.

PoppySeed Dressing
Yields 1 pint of dressing.

  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt, to taste
  • 1 1/2 tsp Dry Mustard
  • 2 Tbsp Yellow Onion, grated
  • 1/2 Cup Sherry Vinegar
  • 1 Cup Canola Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Poppy Seeds
  • Add sugar, salt, mustard, and onion to a bowl. Whisk to combine. While whisking, add vinegar and oil gradually, alternating and ending with vinegar.
  • Add poppy seeds and stir.