Description

Creamy Avocado Pasta is a quick and healthy dish featuring penne pasta tossed in a fresh, vibrant sauce made from ripe avocado, lemon juice, garlic, onion, and cilantro. This easy-to-make recipe offers a satisfying, creamy texture without any dairy, making it a perfect light meal or side dish packed with flavor and nutrients.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Cooking Base

8 ounces penne pasta (substitute gluten-free pasta if needed)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 white onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced

Avocado Sauce

1 medium avocado
1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Pepper to taste

For Serving

Chopped cilantro
Pumpkin seeds (optional)

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Begin by cooking the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and set it aside. Then drain the pasta thoroughly.
Prepare the Onion and Garlic: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until softened. Next, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant but not browned. Transfer the cooked onion and garlic into a food processor.
Create the Avocado Sauce: In the food processor, combine the sautéed onion and garlic, avocado, cilantro, lemon juice, and sea salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning with extra salt or pepper as preferred. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add some reserved pasta water and blend again until the desired creamy consistency is achieved.
Combine Pasta with Sauce: Return the drained pasta to the pot and pour the avocado sauce over it. Gently toss to coat the pasta evenly. Add additional reserved pasta water if necessary to loosen the sauce and ensure all pasta is well coated.
Serve: Serve the pasta immediately on plates, garnished with extra chopped cilantro and pumpkin seeds for added texture and flavor if desired.

Notes

To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and confirm all other ingredients, especially seasonings, are gluten-free certified.
If you prefer a spicier kick, add a pinch of chili flakes to the sauce.
Leftover pasta can be refrigerated and served cold or gently reheated with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
This sauce works well as a spread or dip with bread or crackers as an alternative.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: avocado pasta, creamy avocado sauce, healthy pasta recipe, quick pasta, vegan pasta sauce, gluten-free pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta