Creamy Avocado Lime Pasta (Printable View)

Vibrant pasta with avocado sauce, lime zest, and fresh cherry tomatoes for a quick, satisfying dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Creamy Avocado Sauce

03 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
04 - 1 garlic clove, minced
05 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
06 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)
07 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley leaves
08 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional, or nutritional yeast for vegan)
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Vegetables & Toppings

11 - 9 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - Zest of 1 lime
13 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
14 - Fresh herbs, for garnish (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - While pasta cooks, place avocados, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed.
03 - Drain pasta and return to the pot. Pour avocado sauce over warm pasta and toss gently to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
04 - Gently fold in halved cherry tomatoes and lime zest. The residual heat from the pasta will slightly warm the tomatoes without making them mushy.
05 - Divide among serving bowls. Top with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired. Serve immediately while the sauce is still creamy and warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The creamy avocado sauce comes together in literally three minutes and somehow tastes richer than heavy cream versions
  • You can keep all the ingredients on hand for those nights when takeout feels like the only option
02 -
  • Avocado sauce turns brownish green quickly because of oxidation, but it still tastes perfect for hours
  • The pasta water is non negotiable here, without it the sauce clumps instead of coating the noodles
03 -
  • If your avocados are slightly underripe, add an extra tablespoon of olive oil to smooth out the texture
  • The sauce thickness can vary by avocado, so start with half the pasta water and add more as needed

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