Creamy Avocado Spinach Pasta (Printable)

Velvety pasta tossed in a creamy avocado and spinach sauce for a nutritious, comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine

→ Sauce

02 - 2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
03 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach, washed
04 - 2 cloves garlic
05 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1/4 cup whole milk or plant-based milk
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for vegan option)
08 - Juice of 1 lemon
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

12 - Extra grated Parmesan (or nutritional yeast)
13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Toasted pine nuts (optional)

# Step-by-step:

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 the pasta.
02 - While the pasta cooks, place avocados, spinach, garlic, olive oil, milk, Parmesan (or nutritional yeast), lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a blender or food processor.
03 - Blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
04 - Return the drained pasta to the pot. Pour the avocado-spinach sauce over the pasta and toss gently to coat, adding more reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky texture.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and toasted pine nuts if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 25 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant that takes hours
  • The sauce is incredibly creamy without any heavy cream, making it lighter than you expect
  • Nutrientdense comfort food that actually makes you feel good afterward
02 -
  • The sauce thickens quickly as it sits, so have everything ready to serve immediately
  • That reserved pasta water is liquid gold for adjusting consistency
  • Avocado oxidizes, but the lemon juice helps keep the sauce bright and green
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry pan until golden for extra depth and crunch
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly than cold ones

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