Creamy Avocado Spinach Pasta (Printable Version)
Silky pasta tossed with avocado, spinach, garlic, and walnuts for a wholesome meal.
# What You 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 Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
02 - While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine avocados, spinach, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and Parmesan (if using). Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
03 - Toss the hot, drained pasta with the avocado-spinach sauce, adding a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency.
04 - Divide the pasta among plates. Top with chopped walnuts, extra Parmesan or nutritional yeast, and fresh basil if desired.
05 - Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy avocado sauce feels luxurious but comes together in minutes
- Perfect for those nights when you want restaurant quality without the restaurant effort
02 -
- Work quickly once the sauce is blended as avocados can brown if left sitting too long
- The pasta water is crucial for achieving the right consistency so do not forget to reserve it
03 -
- Toast the walnuts in a dry pan for 2 to 3 minutes to deepen their flavor and add extra crunch
- Double the sauce recipe and use the extra as a dip for vegetables or spread for sandwiches