Description
A creamy and vibrant Avocado Pesto Pasta recipe combining ripe avocado, fresh herbs, and walnuts to create a nutritious and delicious sauce tossed with thick spaghetti. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for a quick, flavorful meal served warm or at room temperature.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz uncooked thick spaghetti
Avocado Pesto Sauce
- 1 large or extra large ripe avocado (skin and seed removed)
- 1 cup packed parsley or basil leaves
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 2 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese plus additional for garnish
- 2-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of half a lemon
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Additional
- 1 tomato (diced)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add the thick spaghetti. Cook until al dente according to package instructions, then drain the water and set the pasta aside.
- Prepare Avocado Pesto: In a food processor, combine the ripe avocado, parsley or basil leaves, garlic cloves, walnuts, and 2 tablespoons of shredded parmesan cheese. Pulse briefly on high speed to initially chop the ingredients. Then, with the processor running, gradually stream in extra virgin olive oil until the sauce smooths out and reaches a creamy consistency. Add lemon juice and pulse again. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed. For a thinner sauce, add more olive oil gradually.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Transfer the drained spaghetti into a serving bowl or pan. Add the prepared avocado pesto sauce and toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly. Mix in the diced tomato for a fresh burst of flavor.
- Serve: Garnish the pasta with additional shredded parmesan cheese. Serve the dish warm or at room temperature according to preference.
Notes
- Use ripe avocados for the creamiest pesto texture.
- Choose either parsley or basil to customize the herbal flavor of your pesto.
- You can substitute walnuts with pine nuts or almonds if desired.
- Add olive oil slowly to control the sauce consistency.
- This dish serves well as a light main course or a side.
- Store any leftover sauce separately in an airtight container to prevent browning of the avocado.
