Description
Creamy avocado pasta salad blends Mediterranean flavors with fresh ingredients for a delightful summer dish. Zesty herbs and tangy lime create a light, refreshing meal perfect for quick lunches or elegant gatherings you’ll savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ripe avocados
- 8 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1/2 cup red onion
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking process.
- While pasta cools, dice ripe avocados into bite-sized cubes and halve cherry tomatoes.
- Finely mince red onion and garlic, and chop fresh basil leaves into delicate ribbons.
- Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl to create a vibrant dressing.
- Add cooled pasta to the dressing, gently tossing to ensure each pasta piece is evenly coated.
- Fold in avocado cubes, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and garlic, mixing carefully to prevent avocado from breaking.
- Sprinkle chopped basil leaves throughout the salad and gently incorporate.
- For added richness, dust with grated parmesan cheese if desired.
- Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together before serving.
- Serve cold as a refreshing summer side dish or light main course.
Notes
- Choose ripe but firm avocados to prevent mushy texture and maintain salad’s structural integrity.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust dressing consistency if needed, creating a silky smooth coating.
- Prevent avocado browning by tossing cubes with lemon juice immediately after cutting, which adds brightness and preserves color.
- Prep ingredients just before assembling to keep vegetables crisp and prevent soggy salad texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg