Avocado Pasta
I’m always looking for delicious ways to serve up healthy fats and veggies in forms that my kids will actually eat. And since 2/3 of my kids love avocado, I figured it was worth trying it in a pasta sauce. This is SO good. This is a creamy, nutrient-dense pasta sauce that pairs well with any shape or type of pasta. And it has kid-friendly flavor that we adults love too and is so versatile according to what you have on hand. Can’t beat that combination! This is a delicious pasta recipe as a vegetarian main dish, or you can add cherry tomatoes, diced chicken, peas, white beans, or shrimp. It’s very versatile that way. (You may also like my Avocado Pesto.)
Ingredients You Need
To make this pasta recipe you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Grated Parmesan: I find that this style of Parmesan cheese has the most flavor. You can also use Pecorino or shredded Parmesan.Avocado: Fresh, ripe avocado works best in this recipe to make creamy avocado pasta (that doesn’t even need any real cream).Lemon: Fresh lemon juice and zest helps add flavor to this pasta recipe.Olive oil: A little olive oil helps the sauce to blend and coat the pasta nicely.Garlic, optional if you like extra flavor.
TIP: You can make this while the pasta cooks, it’s that fast. You can also add baby spinach and roasted sunflower seeds to make this more like pesto.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s an overview of this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of this post to see the details. TIP: Make sure you let the blender get the mixture super smooth, using the stick that came with it as needed (especially to make sure the garlic gets blended in!)
Best Tips for Success
This sauce is best on the day you make it. But you can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for a few hours without too much browning, but any longer than that and the top (or the part that’s exposed to air) will brown. To prevent that, add a little layer of olive oil to help keep air out.Mix in cooked and diced chicken, steak, ham, or shrimp, or white beans or chickpeas to add more protein if desired.Dairy-free: Omit the cheese and adjust the salt as needed to make this vegan.Gluten-free: Use a favorite gluten-free pasta or a legume or bean based pasta such as chickpea pasta.Add a handful of baby spinach and roasted sunflower seeds for a version that’s like avocado pesto.Omit the garlic clove if you think the flavor might be too strong for your family.Use your family’s favorite type of pasta.Add fresh herbs such as fresh basil leaves or parsley. Add cracked black pepper to your serving.
Comment and rate the recipe below if you have feedback to share when you make it. I’d love to hear from you!
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This post was first published April 2020.
