Creamy Avocado Pasta Dish (Printer-friendly)

Vibrant pasta coated in creamy avocado sauce with fresh basil and lemon for a refreshing taste.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - Salt, to taste (for pasta water)

→ Avocado Sauce

03 - 2 ripe avocados, halved and pitted
04 - 1 garlic clove, peeled
05 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
07 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
09 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

11 - Fresh basil leaves
12 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
13 - Lemon zest (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
02 - Combine avocados, garlic, basil leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, chili flakes (if using), salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add reserved pasta water gradually to achieve desired consistency.
03 - Toss the hot, drained pasta with the avocado sauce until evenly coated, adding more reserved pasta water if necessary.
04 - Divide pasta among plates. Garnish with additional Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce blends in under two minutes and clings to every strand of pasta like velvet.
  • It tastes indulgent but uses ingredients you probably already have on hand.
  • Leftovers (if there are any) stay creamy in the fridge and reheat beautifully with a splash of water.
02 -
  • The sauce will darken if it sits too long, so make it fresh and toss it with the pasta immediately.
  • Don't skip the pasta water, it's the only thing that keeps the sauce from clumping and helps it coat every bite.
  • If your avocados aren't ripe enough, the sauce will taste flat and grainy no matter how much you blend it.
03 -
  • Use the ripest avocados you can find, underripe ones will make the sauce taste bitter and chalky no matter what you do.
  • Add the pasta water slowly, too much and you'll end up with soup instead of a creamy sauce.
  • Taste as you go and adjust the lemon, salt, and pepper until it makes your taste buds wake up.
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