Published: · Modified: by Bhavana Patil · This post may contain affiliate links · 31 Comments
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ThisCreamy Avocado Pastarecipe is super easy, healthy, delicious, and packed with hidden spinach, a sneaky way to get kids to eat their leafy greens. Add more fresh summer veggies to make it a healthy avocado pasta salad. Dairy-free, Nut-free, Vegan friendly!
My daughter lovesavocadoright from the age of 6 months. Now she is 7+. I usually give her avocado in the form ofavocado paratha,avocado toast,avocado golgappa, pasta with avocado, or just with some salt and pepper. She also calls this sometimes Guacamole Pasta.
This recipe couldn't get easier. If you are craving a healthy and easy pasta meal for your family, this pasta dish can be made instantly. While the Pasta is cooking in the Instant Pot, prepare the creamy avocado sauce and quickly mix it. It's creamy, fresh, and so satisfying!
If you count on calories or Low Carb/Keto diet, then use this avocado pesto sauce with zucchini to make a zoodle avocado pasta.
So, next time, try this pasta recipe for your weeknight lunch or dinner, and I am sure your kids will cherish every bite of this delicious Pasta.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- How to Make Creamy Avocado Pasta
- What to Serve with Creamy Avocado Pasta?
- Variations
- Tips to Make the Best Avocado Pesto Pasta
- Storage Suggestions
- Recipe FAQs
- More Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
Here is the list of ingredients to make a creamy avocado pasta recipe.
- Pasta: I usedsemolina penne pasta. But feel free to use your favorite pasta of your choice, likechickpea pasta, quinoa pasta, spaghetti, linguine, macaroni, pasta shells, or anygrain-free, gluten-free pasta. For a low-carb meal, you can usezoodles or spaghetti squash instead.
- Avocado:Use good quality, fresh, ripe avocado to make the green pasta sauce creamy and flavorful. I have used 1 Hass Avocado.
- Garlic:Garlic adds a great flavor to the dish, so don't skip it.
- Spinach:I have used baby spinach in this avocado pesto sauce, but you can use any fresh herbs likebasil, or cilantro for a variation.
- Green chili: I have used one Thai green chili. This is added to increase the heat of the dish. You can also skip it.
- Lemon juice (or Lime juice): Lemon juice is added to add tanginess and to prevent the browning of avocado sauce, so don't miss it. You may also use lime juice instead of lemon.
- Olive oil: Use extra virgin oil for the best flavor.
- Salt and black pepper:They are added as a seasoning.
How to Make Creamy Avocado Pasta
To Cook Pasta
Stovetop Pot Method
- In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the salt.
- Add the dry pasta to the water, and stir a few times to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions (about 10-12 minutes), occasionally stirring, until al dente or softer according to the desired texture.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain the excess water and keep it aside.
Instant Pot Method
- Add dry pasta, water, and salt to the Instant Pot. Most of the pasta should be covered in water. If it is not, add some more water.
- Furthermore, close the lid on the pot. Pressure Cook (high pressure) for4 minutes.Note:I am using penne pasta in this recipe which has 10 minutes for cooking on the stovetop. So to cook on Instant Pot – Divide the cooking time by half and minus one for al dente pasta. So it's 4 minutes, for softer pasta, do 5 minutes.
- When the instant pot beeps, wait for 5 minutes andQuick Releasethe remaining pressure manually. Then open the lid, and drain if there is any extra water.
To Prepare Avocado Sauce for Pasta
- Put the avocado pulp, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, spinach, green chili, salt, pepper, and water (or reserved pasta water) into a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Start with ¼ cup of water and then add more as needed to get the desired consistency.
- Avocado spinach pasta sauceis ready. **Note: You can also add some parmesan cheese if desired.
Assemble the Pasta
- Add the avocado sauce to the al dente cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated with the dressing.
Instant Pot Avocado Pesto Pasta is ready.
Lastly, sprinkle some red chili flakes, grated parmesan cheese, if desired, and Serve it immediately or chill for an hour. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Creamy Avocado Pasta?
- You or your kid can enjoy a large bowl of avocado pesto pasta and call it a meal.
- You can also add some fresh veggies, make it a healthy pasta salad, and enjoy it with garlic bread.
- For extra protein, add some crispy tofu.
Variations
- Greek Yogurt: You can add 2 tablespoons of full-fat greek yogurt while making sauce for extra protein.
- Cheese: You can also add Parmesan cheese while making the avocado cream sauce. For Vegan, use vegan parmesan cheese.
- Vegetables: To make it healthier, add fresh vegetables such as boiled sweet corn, green peas, bell peppers, steamed broccoli, roasted zucchini, roasted mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes to this dish.
- Greens: Instead of spinach, you can replace it with kale, parsley, basil, or cilantro. You can also omit the greens if you would like.
- Garlic: You can use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
- Pasta Variety: Use any kind of your favorite pasta like spaghetti, macaroni, shell, pasta shells, or rotini.
Try using whole wheat, lentils, or veggie pasta for kids to make it healthier.
Tips to Make the Best Avocado Pesto Pasta
- Use ripe avocadoes as they help to blend easily and make a rich and creamy sauce.
- Cook the pasta al dente, so the texture of the pasta is firm, not mushy, when toasted with the avocado dressing.
- The consistency of avocado pesto sauce should not be too thick while mixing up the pasta, otherwise, the pasta will turn dry when eaten later. You can add some reserved pasta water or milk to make it creamy.
- Do not reheat the pasta, the flavor of the avocado changes when heated.
- Generally, the time to cook pasta in an Instant Pot is half the suggested time on the pasta box, minus one for al dente pasta.
- Also, ensure you have enough water to cover most of the pasta underwater. Depending on the shape and size of the pasta, you may need more or fewer liquids.BURN ALERT?If your instant pot has shown BURN in the past, add ½ cup of extra water while making the pasta.
Storage Suggestions
Make-Ahead: You can boil the pasta, prepare the avocado sauce a day before, and store it in an airtight container. When you are ready to serve, toss everything well.
Storage: I do not recommend storing the leftovers as this pasta contains avocado; it will change color and turn brownish. However, you can store the leftovers for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Also, I was not too fond of the taste of the leftover pasta.
Recipe FAQs
How to make avocado pasta salad?
Follow the same steps as the avocado pasta recipe. Add roasted cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet corn, green peas, and avocado chunks. Mix well and serve the avocado pasta salad recipe immediately.
What can be used instead of spinach?
I have used baby spinach, but you can use other greens, such as basil, kale, and parsley, or omit them if you like.
Is this avocado pesto sauce nut-free and vegan?
Traditional Pesto is made with walnuts or pine nuts. I did not use it in this recipe. Feel free to add some while making the sauce.
I did not use parmesan cheese, and this is optional. If you don't have any vegan restrictions, add the grated cheese while making the pesto sauce.
Can you freeze the avocado pasta sauce?
Yes, you can freeze the leftover avocado pesto pasta sauce in freezer-safe ziplock or airtight containers for up to 1 month.
How do you keep avocado fresh in the pasta?
Do not skip adding lemon juice while making the pasta sauce, as this will help delay the pasta's oxidizing process. You can also squeeze some lemon juice after you toss the pasta with the sauce.
If you like avocadoes, check out moreAvocado Recipes
- Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Chickpea Avocado Sandwich
- Guacamole Sandwich
- Avocado Smoothie
- Avocado Corn Salad
Also, explore moreAmerican recipesfor inspiration for your next family dinner.
More Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Spinach Pasta Recipe
- Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
- White Sauce Pasta (Bechamel Sauce Pasta)
Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
Creamy Avocado Pasta
Bhavana Patil
Creamy Avocado Pasta is a super healthy, delicious and packed with hidden spinach, avocado.
4.84 from 66 votes
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Servings: 2
Calories : 615
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
Prep Time : 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time : 10 minutes minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes minutes
Equipment
Ingredients
For Cooking Pasta:
- 8 oz penne pasta i used semolina pasta (about 2-2.5 cups) or any pasta
- 2 cups water
- salt to taste
For Avocado Sauce:
- 1 large avocado ripened
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 green chilli optional
- crushed black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon olive oil optional
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt adjust to taste
- ¼ cup water or as needed
Garnish
Instructions
How to Cook Pasta:
Stovetop Pot Method:
In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the salt.
Add the pasta to the water, stir a few times to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions (about 10-12 minutes) stirring occasionally, until al dente or softer according to the desired texture.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain excess water and keep it aside.
Instant Pot Method:
Add dry pasta, water, salt to the Instant Pot. Most of the pasta should be covered in the water. If it is not, add some more water.
Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes.
Note: Using penne pasta in this recipe which has 10 minutes for cooking on stovetop. So to cook on Instant Pot – Divide the cook time by half and minus one for al dente pasta. So its 4 minutes. For softer pasta do 5 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, wait for 5 minutes andQuick Releasethe remaining pressure manually. Then open the lid, drain if there is any extra water.
Prepare Avocado Sauce for Pasta:
Put the avocado, lemon juice, oil, garlic, spinach, green chili, salt, pepper, water into a food processor and blend until smooth.
Start with ¼ cup of water and then add more as needed to get the desired consistency.
Avocado spinach pasta sauceis ready. **Note: You can also add some parmesan cheese if desired.
Assemble:
Add the avocado pasta sauce to the instant pot insert, and then toss until evenly coated. This avocado pesto pasta is best served within 2-3 hours it is made, as it uses avocados which will turn a brownish color.
Sprinkle over some chilli flakes and top with parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker,Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT.
Variations
- Greek Yogurt: You can also add 2 tablespoons of full-fat greek yogurt while making sauce for extra protein.
- Cheese: You can also add Parmesan cheese while making the avocado cream sauce. For Vegan, use vegan parmesan cheese.
- Vegetables: To make it healthier, add fresh vegetables such as boiled sweet corn, steamed broccoli, green peas, zucchini, bell peppers, roasted mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes to this dish.
- Greens: Instead of spinach, you can replace it with kale, parsley, basil, or cilantro. You can also omit the greens if you would like.
- Garlic: You can use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
- Pasta Variety: Use any kind of your favorite pasta like spaghetti, macaroni, shell, or rotini.
Try using whole wheat, lentils, or veggie pasta for kids to make it healthier.
Tips to Make the Best Avocado Pesto Pasta
- Use ripe avocadoes as it helps to blend easily and makes a rich and creamy sauce.
- Cook the pasta al dente, so the texture of the pasta is firm, not mushy when toasted with the avocado dressing.
- The consistency of avocado pesto sauce should not be too thick while mixing up the pasta, else, the pasta will turn dry when eaten later. You can also add some reserved pasta water or some milk to make it creamy.
- Do not reheat the pasta, the flavor of the avocado changes when heated.
- Generally, the time to cook pasta in an Instant Pot is half the suggested time on the pasta box, minus one for al dente pasta.
- Also, ensure you have enough water to cover most of the pasta underwater. Depending on the shape and size of the pasta, you may need more or fewer liquids.BURN ALERT?If your instant pot has shown BURN in the past, add ½ cup of extra water while making the pasta.
Note:Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Calories: 615kcalCarbohydrates: 97gProtein: 17gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 113mgPotassium: 844mgFiber: 12gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1554IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 3mg
Keyword avocado, avocado pasta, cold pasta salad, instant pot, pasta recipes, pasta salad, under 30 minutes
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