Creamy Avocado Lime Pasta (Printable)
Vibrant creamy pasta flavored with avocado, lime, and cherry tomatoes, ready in 25 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
→ Sauce
02 - 2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
03 - 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (approximately 2 limes)
04 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Vegetables & Garnish
10 - 9 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - Zest of 1 lime
12 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
13 - Fresh basil leaves, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
02 - While the pasta cooks, combine avocados, lime juice, olive oil, Parmesan, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, toss the hot drained pasta with the avocado sauce. Add reserved pasta water gradually, one tablespoon at a time, to loosen the sauce as needed.
04 - Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes to maintain their shape.
05 - Plate immediately, garnishing with lime zest, additional grated Parmesan, and fresh basil leaves.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It's ready in under 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed or compromised.
- The avocado sauce is naturally creamy without any heavy cream, making it feel indulgent but actually nourishing.
- It tastes impressively fresh and restaurant-quality, but you're really just blending a few things together.
02 -
- Don't let the finished pasta sit around or the avocado will continue to oxidize and turn dull—this dish needs to go from pan to plate to mouth quickly.
- That reserved pasta water is not an afterthought; it's what transforms a thick paste into a silky, restaurant-quality sauce that coats every strand.
03 -
- Toast a few pine nuts or walnuts separately and scatter them over the top for unexpected crunch and richness that makes everyone ask what you did differently.
- A tiny pinch of red pepper flakes adds complexity without heat, cutting through the richness in a way that feels sophisticated and intentional.