Creamy Avocado Lime Pasta (Printable Version)
A creamy pasta dish featuring ripe avocado, lime, and cherry tomatoes for a refreshing meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine (use gluten-free if needed)
→ Sauce
02 - 2 large ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley leaves
07 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
09 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Toppings
10 - 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - Zest of 1 lime
12 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts (optional)
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to serve
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, combine avocado, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, cilantro (or parsley), salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
03 - Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen.
04 - In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the avocado sauce until evenly coated, adding more pasta water as necessary for a silky texture.
05 - Gently fold in the cherry tomatoes.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with lime zest, pine nuts (if using), and extra black pepper.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
- The avocado sauce stays emerald bright thanks to lime juice, so it looks as beautiful as it tastes
02 -
- The pasta water is not optional since it helps the sauce cling to every strand and prevents the avocado from becoming too thick
- This dish really does need to be served immediately because the sauce continues to thicken as it sits
03 -
- Make sure your avocados are perfectly ripe because under-ripe ones will never become truly smooth no matter how long you blend
- Room temperature avocados blend more easily than cold ones straight from the fridge