Pasta tossed in creamy avocado, sweet grape tomatoes, and refreshing basil. With just a hint of garlic and lightly salted, this dish is delicious and healthy, just in time for summer.
Don’t you just love summer ingredients? I certainly do. And the ingredients in this pasta dish are simple, delicious, and refreshing, which is what we need for hot lazy summer days.
Pasta coated with creamy avocado and a hint of garlic. Sliced grape tomatoes add a little bit of sweetness to the dish. Roughly torn basil leaves give the dish a rustic look and a refreshing taste. Each bite is delicious with simple but flavorful ingredients.
How did I come up with this combination? Believe it or not, the idea stemmed from my Sweet Corn and Edamame Guacamole Dip recipe. When I made that dip two weeks, I was so addicted. I could have eaten it spoon by spoon without feeling the least bit guilty. So of course, I decided to use it as a “sauce” for my pasta. Just a little bit more garlic and a pinch more salt and ta daa! We have Creamy Avocado Pasta. Next, I rummaged through my refrigerator to find what ingredients I had. Tomato and basil. Perfect. Add them to the pasta. Toss them to mix. Dinner is ready in about 20 minutes max!
See? Quick and simple, right? Meals don’t have to be complicated to be delicious. And you can use whatever ingredients you have in your refrigerator as long as you like them. That’s the important part. =)
I’ll have to make sure to bring this dish to Fiesta Friday and share it with all my friends there!
First, cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. I used spaghetti and it took me about 10 minutes to get it to the way I liked it. Time will vary according to the pasta you use and how soft you prefer. Once the pasta is cooked to how you like it, drain the water and run the noodles through cold water. This helps stop the cooking process and prevents the pasta from sticking to each other.
Cut a large avocado in half and remove the large pit from the middle. Use a spoon to scoop the avocado from its outer shell into a medium sized bowl. Mash the avocado until it becomes smooth. If you want the avocado to be smooth without any chunks, you can place the avocado into a blender and blend until it becomes smooth. I liked mine a little chunky so I mashed the avocado with a spoon.
Sometimes, the avocado is too thick, which could make the pasta a little dry. So I wanted to thin out the avocado a little bit by adding honey yogurt. I used Noosa Yoghurt because it’s my favorite, but you can use regular yogurt or even Greek. Mix until the yogurt is thoroughly incorporated into the mashed avocado. Adding yogurt is completely optional. If you’re vegan, skip this step. =)
Add in the garlic powder and salt, more to taste. Since the avocado is meant to be a “sauce” for the pasta, it needs to be flavorful.
Pour the avocado mixture over the pasta and mix until the noodles are completely coated.
Slice grape tomatoes in half and tear up the basil. Toss with the pasta until it’s evenly distributed.
Place the pasta onto a plate.
Serve the pasta cold. Enjoy!
Want instant updates? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Bloglovin.
For a printer friendly version of this recipe, click here.
Click on the image below for an enlarged version of this recipe.
lifeinarrghland says
Reblogged this on Life in arrghland and commented:
Yum!
founditonapostednote says
freaking yum!!!
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
Thanks!
foodienfitness says
I have an avocado lying in the fridge; with me thinking what to do with it since my husb despises it.. Thanks for this recipe .. Btw, does it have too much avocado taste to it??
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
It’s going to be creamy because of the avocado, but I don’t think the avocado taste is overwhelming, especially if you add tomatoes and basil. Since basil has strong flavor, I feel you notice that more. Then again, I like avocado. Just make sure you season the avocado well. My sisters told me they thought it tasted like pasta in guacamole. Hope that helps. =)
Diana says
Oh my gosh! I would never, ever, ever thinking of making an avacado suace for pasta….how heavenly! Cannot wait to try this!
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I hope you’ll like it, Diana! =)
Priya Ghose says
Your blog is dangerous to read on an empty stomach! 😉
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
Aww. Thanks, Priya!
Priya Ghose says
Reblogged this on Click And Color.
Joanna H. Johnson says
Looks delicious. I love pasta with avocado!
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I hope you’ll enjoy it, Joanna!
yourperfectburn says
That looks absolutely amazing. Such a great summer dish. I will be giving this one a try.
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I hope you’ll like it =)
Joanna says
Sounds perfect for a hot summer evening meal!! 🙂 xo
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I think so =) My mind has been on summer for weeks now!
Dragnfli says
This is totally off subject, but this picture brings back memories! I had a set of dishes with that pattern on them decades ago.
Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower says
We don’t really have matching sets of dishes at home. So I select the few that I like and use it for food photos =)