Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad

This Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad is packed with fresh cherries, red onion, and feta cheese, all topped with a light white balsamic dressing. Easy to make and bursting with flavor, this salad is the perfect summer dish to enjoy all season long!

It’s that time of year…kids are back to school and I can smell fall in the air.

Even though schools started in my area nearly two weeks ago, I always get that ‘back-to-school’ feeling when I step outside. I’ve mentioned this before, but this time of year is just so nostalgic for me!

The air has that fall-ish, school feel to me, even though it’s still hot outside. And the days are getting ever-so slightly shorter, and the mornings are staying darker just a little bit longer.

August may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the summer salads have to stop, right?

I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to share with you one of my favorite summer stone fruits…cherries!

Cherries are delicious all on their own, or when added to pies, crisps, cobblers, and just about anything else. But, have you added cherries to pasta yet? The combination is incredible, and one that I wish I would’ve tried sooner.

Which brings me to this Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad.

This simple pasta is packed with fresh cherries, red onion, and feta cheese, all topped with a light white balsamic dressing. Easy to make and bursting with flavor, this salad is the perfect summer dish to enjoy all season long!

If you’ve been hanging around here long enough, you may remember that I use white balsamic vinegar in most of my salads and bowls (this Corn and Tomato Salad and that Roasted Cauliflower, Mushroom and Chickpea Quinoa Bowl). It has a lighter taste and flavor than regular balsamic vinegar, which is perfect for not overpowering the rest of the ingredients.

So, of course, I had to use white balsamic vinegar in this Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad. With only the addition of olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, it’s the most deliciously light, yet flavorful dressing for the summer.

And then come the cherries! I used dark cherries for this pasta salad, which is perfect for not being overly sweet or too sour. And here’s a tip! If you don’t own a cherry pitter, an easy way to get the pits out is to take one end of a chop stick and push it through the stem. With a little finesse, the pit will pop right out! I’ve heard that a frosting piping tip will work too, but I haven’t tried that.

I also threw in some red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and a little parsley for a pop of color. Toss everything together with the pasta and your summer-in-a-bowl is just waiting to be devoured!

The sweet cherries, creamy feta, and tangy red onions provide the perfect amount of flavor that is sure to keep you coming back for more. So if you’re looking for that special dish to serve over Labor Day weekend, grab those cherries while they’re still in season and whip up this simple Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad!

Looking for more pasta salads? I’ve got you covered!

• Caprese Pasta Salad
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• BLT Ranch Pasta Salad

Yields 6 servings

Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad

This Cherry Balsamic Pasta Salad is packed with fresh cherries, red onion, and feta cheese, all topped with a light white balsamic dressing. Easy to make and bursting with flavor, this salad is the perfect summer dish to enjoy all season long!

10 minPrep Time

10 minCook Time

20 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

• 8 ounces dry farfalle pasta (or any type that you prefer)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 8 ounces fresh dark cherries, pitted and halved (about 3/4 cup halved cherries)
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish, if desired

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and immediately rinse under cold water.
2. Add noodles to large bowl, along with olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and garlic powder. Toss to coat.
3. Add cherries, red onion, feta cheese, salt and pepper. Stir together. Add more white balsamic vinegar and/or salt and pepper, if needed.
4. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
5. Enjoy!

Notes

If you don't have a cherry pitter, you can take one end of a chop stick (or a frosting piping tip) and push it through the cherry stem and out the other side. With a little wiggling, the pit should pop right out.

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https://www.pumpkinnspice.com/cherry-balsamic-pasta-salad/