My daughter loves avocado right from the age of 6 months. Now she is 7+. I usually give her avocado in the form of avocado 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.
Ingredients
Here is the list of ingredients to make a creamy avocado pasta recipe.
Pasta: I used semolina penne pasta. But feel free to use your favorite pasta of your choice, like chickpea pasta, quinoa pasta, spaghetti, linguine, macaroni, pasta shells, or any grain-free, gluten-free pasta. For a low-carb meal, you can use zoodles 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 like basil, 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) for 4 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 and Quick Release the 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 sauce is 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!
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.
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. If you like avocadoes, check out more Avocado Recipes
Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad Chickpea Avocado Sandwich Guacamole Sandwich Avocado Smoothie Avocado Corn Salad
Also, explore more American recipes for inspiration for your next family dinner. ★ Like this recipe? FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube for more quick & easy recipes.
