Creamy Avocado Pasta Dish (Printable)

Vibrant pasta tossed in creamy avocado sauce with fresh basil and lemon notes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - Salt, to season 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 tbsp fresh lemon juice
07 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
09 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente following package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
02 - Combine avocados, garlic, basil leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, chili flakes (if used), salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the sauce consistency by adding reserved pasta water as needed.
03 - Toss the hot drained pasta with the avocado sauce, incorporating additional reserved pasta water to ensure an even coating.
04 - Divide the pasta among serving plates. Top with extra Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and a sprinkle of lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in twenty minutes flat, which means weeknight dinners feel effortless and elegant at the same time.
  • The avocado sauce is naturally creamy without any cream, making it lighter than it has any right to taste.
  • Fresh lemon and basil keep everything bright and alive on the plate, never heavy or forgettable.
02 -
  • Avocados oxidize quickly once you blend them, so make the sauce just before the pasta finishes cooking—don't prepare it ahead and wonder why it's turned gray.
  • The pasta water is your friend here; those starchy grains actually help the sauce coat the noodles instead of sliding off.
03 -
  • Keep your bowls or plates warm by running hot water over them just before serving; cold ceramics steal heat from the pasta faster than you'd think.
  • If you're cooking for someone who can't have dairy, nutritional yeast does a surprisingly convincing job of replacing the Parmesan, adding that savory umami without any of the animal products.
Go Back