Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta
By Aurora Ibarra
Not your traditional pesto- this uses one of my favorite ingredients- avocado! This pesto goes great with pasta or use it to top of grilled fish. The natural buttery avocado makes this pesto creamy without the guilt and the spinach adds an extra punch of flavor and nutrition. Go outside the box next time you make pasta and try this easy, delicious sauce!
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces pasta
- 1 small avocado, halved, peeled, and seeded
- 1 cup packed baby spinach
- 1 /2 cup fresh basil leaves
- juice from 1 large lime
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 1 /2 teaspoon salt
- 1 /4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 /4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 /4 cup almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
Directions:
- Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain, reserving a cup of pasta water, and place on a serving bowl.
- Place avocado, spinach, basil, lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Pour pesto over pasta, add Parmesan and almonds and mix until everything is thoroughly coated. Add pasta water to thin out the pesto sauce until desired consistency.
Want more delicious, vegetarian recipes? Check out my blog, Cocina Teknicolor!
**Slightly adapted from a recipe by Giada di Laurentiis
