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Avocado Pasta is all the rage, and there's good reason! Try out my light, creamy, utterly delicious recipe for avocado pasta and you'll be blown away at how quickly you can whip up a rich and delicious side dish using simple, fresh ingredients.
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Avocado Pasta Recipe
Avocados are truly the champions of the culinary world, and the more I experiment with them in my cooking, the more I want to use them for everything! The creamy texture of avocados truly has secured them a special place in food. They can elevate everything from baked goods to ice cream (it's true!), fries, and even sauces.
This amazing avocado pasta recipe is yet another testament to the versatility of this wonder fruit. It's quick, easy, and oh so creamy! All it takes is avocados, pasta, Parmesan, and some pantry basics, and it's done in minutes.
The best thing about avocado pasta is that it's perfect for everything. Making pasta salad? Use this sauce! Making chicken pesto? Add basil and walnuts, and you've got avocado pesto sauce. Trust me- make it once, and you'll be making it again and again.
Creamy Avocado Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta
- Avocado
- Fresh spinach
- Garlic
- Lime
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Parmesan
- Cherry tomatoes
How to Make Avocado Sauce Pasta
- Prepare your favorite pasta to package instructions, making sure to reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain, and set aside.
- Slice the avocado in half, then remove the pit and skin. In a food processor or blender, add the avocado, half the Parmesan, olive oil, spinach, garlic, lime juice, salt, and pepper, and blend until smooth. Add pasta water until at desired consistency.
- Pour the pasta sauce and cooked pasta into a large pan, then heat over low heat, tossing until everything is evenly coated and warmed through. Add the rest of the Parmesan and the tomatoes, and heat until melted and warm.
- Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan and a drizzle of oil, and enjoy!
Avocado Creamy Pasta Tips
- Make sure to use fresh, ripe avocados. An unripe avocado will have a firmer texture and won't have nearly as much flavor. See How to Ripen Avocados if yours are too firm.
- You can use bottled lime juice, but fresh squeezed has a much zingier and more complex flavor that bottled juice misses out on.
- The pasta will cook more when combined with the sauce, so make sure to cook it al dente or else it can get too mushy.
- Make sure to use quality olive oil! The oil adds a lot of flavor to this dish, so it's important to not swap it out for other oils, either.
- This pasta is great for adding toppings! Serve it as a grilled chicken avocado pasta, or add shrimp for a light but filling meal.
How to Ripen Avocados
Avocado pasta sauce works best with ripe avocados, rather than firm. If your avocados aren't quite ripe enough, you can quickly ripen them by adding them to a brown paper bag with a ripe banana.
Fold the bag, then place it on the counter at room temperature for 1-2 days. The oxidation of the banana will speed up the ripening process of the avocados.
Avocado Sauce for Pasta FAQ
You can eat avocado pasta the next day, but be warned that it will look a little different! Avocado browns as it's exposed to air and will over time lose flavor and creaminess. It's still safe to eat, but it won't be quite as good.
Avocado turns brown as it's exposed to air, so if you leave avocado pasta sauce out or store it for too long, it will start to darken and lose some of its flavor. For that reason, recipes made with fresh avocado should always be eaten right away to ensure the best flavor and texture!
Avocado can be cooked, and turns out soft, creamy, and incredible! It's best in dishes that are either only warmed through, like avocado pasta sauce, or are baked with other things, to prevent browning. Avocado breads and fries are great examples of baked avocado dishes!
Avocado Sauce Variations
- Pesto Avocado Pasta: Swap out half the spinach for basil and add a handful of walnuts for a rich, creamy, and flavorful pesto-style avocado sauce! If you can't get fresh basil, basil paste or bottled pesto will work too.
- Avocado Chicken Pasta: Grill up some chicken, then dice it and toss it in the pan with the cooked pasta and sauce.
- Shrimp Avocado Pasta: Cooked cocktail shrimp or defrosted salad shrimp are the perfect light and protein-packed addition to avocado pasta! Just toss them in the sauce with the pasta and you're good to go.
How to Store Avocado Sauce
One of the few downsides to avocado is that it browns quickly when exposed to the air. This browning doesn't make the food unsafe to eat, but it can slowly lessen the flavor and texture of the dish, as well as just looking less vibrant.
To best prevent browning, store leftovers right away in an airtight container and set it in the fridge. You can even place a layer of plastic wrap over the surface of the pasta to prevent air from touching it. Reheat in a container with a lid, and eat within 2-4 days.
Pasta Side Dishes
- Cheesy Orzo Risotto
- Creamy Asparagus Pasta
- Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
- Spinach and Mushroom Pasta
- Homemade Rice-a-Roni
I love creamy avocado pasta as a side dish for the holidays, too. It's a great Easter Side Dish!
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Avocado Pasta
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 8 oz Pasta we used fusilli
- 1 large Avocado
- 1 cup Spinach fresh
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese divided
- 2 cloves Garlic
- ¼ cup Lime juice freshly squeezed
- 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare your favorite 8 oz Pasta to package instructions. Drain, making sure to reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, and set aside.8 oz Pasta
- Slice 1 large Avocado in half, then remove the pit and skin. In a food processor or blender, add the avocado, half of ½ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 Tablespoons Olive oil, 1 cup Spinach, 2 cloves Garlic, ¼ cup Lime juice, ½ teaspoon Salt, and ½ teaspoon Pepper, and blend until smooth. Add pasta water until at desired consistency.1 large Avocado, 1 cup Spinach, 2 cloves Garlic, ¼ cup Lime juice, 2 Tablespoons Olive oil, ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Pepper
- Pour the pasta sauce and cooked pasta into a large pan, then heat over low heat, tossing until everything is evenly coated and warmed through. Add the rest of the Parmesan and the tomatoes, and heat until melted and warm.
- Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan and a drizzle of oil, and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to use fresh, ripe avocados. An unripe avocado will have a firmer texture and won't have nearly as much flavor.
- You can use bottled lime juice, but fresh squeezed has a much zingier and more complex flavor that bottled juice misses out on.
- The pasta will cook more when combined with the sauce, so make sure to cook it al dente or else it can get too mushy.
- Make sure to use quality olive oil. The oil adds a lot of flavor to this dish, so it's important to not swap it out for other oils, either.
- This pasta is great for adding toppings! Serve it with grilled chicken or shrimp for a light and filling meal.
Nutrition
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