Creamy Avocado Spinach Pasta (Printable)
A silky pasta blended with avocado, spinach, and walnuts for a healthy, flavorful dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - Salt for boiling water
→ Sauce
03 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
04 - 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
05 - 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
06 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, or use nutritional yeast for vegan)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
10 - 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
11 - Extra grated Parmesan or nutritional yeast (optional)
12 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
02 - Combine avocados, spinach, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and Parmesan (if using) in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
03 - Toss hot, drained pasta with the avocado-spinach sauce, adding a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency.
04 - Divide pasta among plates. Top with chopped walnuts, extra Parmesan or nutritional yeast, and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes and tastes like something from a restaurant
- Its the perfect way to use ripe avocados before they turn
- Even picky eaters who say they hate spinach ask for seconds
02 -
- The sauce will thicken as it sits, so dont worry if it seems a bit thin initially
- Work quickly once the sauce is made, as avocados can start to oxidize and turn brownish
- Leftovers reheat surprisingly well with a splash of water and gentle warming
03 -
- Room temperature avocados blend more smoothly than cold ones from the fridge
- Double the sauce recipe and freeze portions in ice cube trays for quick future meals