Creamy Avocado Spinach Pasta (Printable)
Vibrant pasta featuring silky avocado-spinach sauce with lemon and garlic for a quick, nutritious 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 - 3.5 oz fresh baby spinach
05 - 1 small garlic clove
06 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt or crème fraîche
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
→ Garnish
13 - Additional grated Parmesan, optional
14 - Fresh basil leaves, optional
15 - Crushed red pepper flakes, optional
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Combine avocados, spinach, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, Parmesan, Greek yogurt, black pepper, salt, and lemon zest in a food processor or blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
03 - Transfer sauce to a large bowl. Add drained pasta and toss to coat, incorporating reserved pasta water gradually until desired consistency is reached. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent forever on it
- Its surprisingly creamy without any heavy cream, making it lighter than traditional pasta dishes
02 -
- The sauce will oxidize and turn slightly brownish over time, so its best enjoyed right away
- If your sauce seems too thick, dont hesitate to add more pasta water until it coats the noodles nicely
03 -
- Use room temperature avocados for the silkiest sauce texture
- Let the pasta cool for just a minute before tossing with the sauce to prevent it from becoming too warm