Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Recipe: Pasta with Creamy Avocado Sauce

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In general, I try not to make completely non-evidence based medical promises about the food that I try to shove down your throat every day.

(At least not on the blog.  If you meet me in real life...I will probably tell you sixty times over that eating McDonald's will give you herpes.  Somehow that scares people more than the threat of heart disease.  Weird.)

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But this pasta with its creamy delicious lemony basil-y summer-in-your-mouth avocado sauce?

It will totally give you superpowers.

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How else can you explain how I managed to run twenty miles on Saturday without hitting a single bite me zone? 

And still had enough energy to hop a train to New Jersey and play with the most adorable three and nine-year olds on the face of this earth?


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Well, if no one has any better suggestions...I'm going to dust off my cape and hot pink leggings.

Cause I feel another batch of this coming on. 

...and if one bowl can give me that much running prowess.  We should all brace ourselves for what that second bowl is going to do. 

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Pasta with Creamy Avocado Sauce
Serves 2, adapted from Oh She Glows

Ingredients
  • 1 medium sized, ripe avocado, pitted
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced plus lemon zest to garnish
  • 3 cloves garlic, to taste
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt, with more added to taste
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil
  • 6 oz bucatini
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste


Instructions
  1. Bring several cups of salted water to a boil in medium pot.  Add in pasta, reduce heat to medium, and cook until al dente.  Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Make the sauce by placing garlic cloves and lemon juice into a food processor.  Process until smooth.  Add in the avocado, basil, and salt.  Process until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour sauce over pasta, adding a bit of pasta water if necessary to make it looser.  Taste for salt.  Garnish with lemon zest and black pepper.
I am submitting this to Presto Pasta Nights, which is being hosted this week by Tandy of Lavender and Lime.


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96 comments:

  1. Hmm, I *do* have that four-bag of avocados from our Sunday shopping trip...

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  2. What a perfectly simple and delectable sauce, Joanne. :-) Since we got back from Italy we've all been craving pasta and all things Italian. I'd love to try this one. :-)

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  3. It looks great but what is bucatini? McDonalds doesn't use bucatini!! :-)

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    1. Bucatini is a thick pasta noodle. You should be able to get at specialty shops or whole foods. I used linguine noodles.

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  4. I could use a bowl of that right now! Looks so creamy and delicious!

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  5. I would never have thought to make this for pasta but you have me sold. No worries on McDonalds from this camp - ewwwwwwwww

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  6. Okay, I have to buy a food processor now. Thank you for the inspiration with this amazing recipe, which I could enjoy every day of the week :)

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  7. Love! The perfect quick and healthy dinner.

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  8. I love pasta but I might love my avocados even more so- which would be kind of strange i realize but I just do! They go great with Mexican, humus, Greek and like above Italian food! I just love the creaminess to them and flavor. This pasta looks amazing and I can't wait to try it

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  9. Pesto, meet guacamole.

    True love forever.

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  10. You have just created the pasta sauce of my dreams. I can't wait to make this for my step-daughter who just last night professed her love for all things avocado and all things pasta. Yum!

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  11. yay - have tried this and I agree that it is fantastic - but I didn't know I could run 20 miles after a bowl of the stuff or I would be out the door with my running shoes on (if I owned such a thing!) ha ha!

    Seriously it is great stuff and so ridiculously easy

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  12. Nice. What happened to those tomatoes in the photo?

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  13. I could definitely eat more than one bowl of this, but there's no way I could run even as far as the front door! My superpower would be the ability to eat lots and still want more.

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  14. Joanne, this sauce sounds divine. What a wonderful creamy flavorful combo. I have to make this soon. As always great photos.

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  15. This pasta must really give superpowers! It does look pretty too. I haven't had avocado with my pasta yet, but I'll trust you and go ahead and try it :)

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  16. I agree--eating this dish just might give you superpowers.

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  17. Totally awesome! I'm drooling and ever hopeful that my Honey won't recognize that it's made with avocados - don't ask! Or I'll have some for lunch tomorrow and he won't even know. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights. As always - it's a treat when you do.

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  18. Superpower pasta...I need this in my life. I love the idea of a creamy avocado sauce.

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  19. I saw this online and have been DYING to try it. Now I know I will be trying it. And soon.

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  20. i've been meaning to try this, but anytime i have avocados in the house, i eat them with other meals and then forget to make the pasta!

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  21. I saw the version on OSG and couldn't decide if it looked gross or amazing but if you say it's good I believe it! I think we need a NYC blogger dinner party very soon:-)

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  22. Oh wow! I love avocado and love pasta so much and have never thought of the two together. Looks amazing!

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  23. So simple - I never thought of putting avocado in my pasta.

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  24. I looooooooove avocados. I need this pasta now.

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  25. A recipe to treasure, Joanne! Always used to worry about how best I could use my Avocados in..and the sauce is a perfect find.
    And you 'run twenty miles' a day!! You are into super foods really ;)

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  26. You know my love for your pasta sauce so this is a win for me. Avocado and basil hey? i'm so going to try it.

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  27. All I can say is bravo! This is an awesome recipe! I love avocado, I love pasta...win win for me! Thank you so much for this delicious addition! Can't wait to go get some avocados now!

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  28. Mmm! Love the simplicity of this. And it's another green pasta--looks like you and Amy from Very Culinary were in tune or something. Does the bucatini come in at the end?

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  29. Mmmm, I did an avocado pesto sauce earlier this summer and loved it. Just made a version of Angela's roasted tomato and basil pesto... need to think of something fun to do with it!

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  30. Avocado Sauce? Sounds (and looks) amazing! Love the color!


    Camila Faria

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  31. This is such a popular recipe this week! I'll have to give it a swing.

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  32. I absolutely adore avocados but have yet to eat it with pasta! This looks sooooooo good!

    Haha McDonald's and herpes! I might steal that line.

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  33. Well, I could use some super powers!

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  34. I would have never thought to pair avocado with pasta...but this actually looks delicious! I bet it's nice and creamy too -- the natural way!

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  35. Looks just like pesto - amazing! I can't believe it fueled you through your day. Just thinking about 20 miles and playing with small children makes me need a nap :)

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  36. I've been on an avocado kick this week... this pasta will fit right in!

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  37. I've been feeling extraordinarily unambitious lately, and I think that the problem is that this dish has been missing from my life. I must go get avocados tonight, if not earlier!

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  38. Well this sounds like a winner to me. Another great use for avocados!

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  39. That looks like pasta in pesto! But it is avocado! interesting.

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  40. I have never had Avocado before as far as i know, but ive heard its very good so i need to really try it. Richard from the Amish settlement of Lebanon,pa.

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  41. This dish looks fantastic. I wish I had some right now. What a great way to use avocado.

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  42. You come up with just the awesomest ideas! I hated avocado as a kid but now it's a VIP in our household.

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  43. What fun. A cream sauce made out of avocado. that's a must try!

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  44. This pasta dish looks and sounds great! What a great idea for simple and healthy dinner.

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  45. Avocado is my fave! Next time, can you post a photo of you in your super hero outfit please? I've heard so much about these hot pink leggings that I feel like I know them already

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  46. WOW this looks so luscious....
    So rich and creamy....
    I love avocado, this will be just perfect.

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  47. I saw this recipe on someone's site a whiiiile ago and was SO intrigued! It looks amazing and creamy and delicious and I simply love avo. I need to put this on my to-do list :)

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  48. I haven't had avocados in way too long and I know I never had them in a pasta sauce. I need to fix that. Immediately - so I can run like a rock star!

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  49. You mean I didn't catch my herpes from McDonalds? Rob has some explaining to do, then! ;)

    This looks like such a luscious dressing... perfect for zucchini noodles! Yum! :D

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  50. Avocados are simply my favorite food! I love the pairing with pasta! 20 miles and a great meal? You're amazing!

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  51. Wow you sound a superwoman !! where do u get such energy? :-) Looks so creamy and makes a perfect dinner

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  52. this is really my type of dish! I love avo :)

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  53. Wow! I thought my pasta craving was fixed for the week with that shells and squash filling recipe, but I see I was wrong-o! Sounds like avocado cream sauce is in my immediate future!

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  54. I've been feeling less than amazing while running lately, so I definitely need to try this! I'm ready for some superpowers.

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  55. This looks dreamy. I could use some of those super-powers too!

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  56. Yeah, avocado on pasta is just dreamy. So freaking good!

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  57. What a great way to eat avocados! We are a family avocado farm in So. Calif. and have never tried eating avocado in pasta. We do eat them for almost every meal though. Thanks for the great recipe!

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  58. Oh goodness, Joanne. Hello avocado. I love you so. And since I'm the only one in the family who does, both servings are mine!

    p.s. I made your pasta with corn pesto. Delish!

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  59. Why haven't I made this yet? I've saved similar versions, but haven't gotten to it. Which is crazy because I can't think of a meal my son would love more than pasta with avocado. (And I'm sure his parents would enjoy it just as much.)

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  60. I want super powers! I WILL be making this one soon. Bookmarked.

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  61. I. love. this. I'd take this pasta over McDonalds any way.

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  62. You're a super hero every day! Which is even more encouragement to eat a diet like yours. I seriously don't know how you do everything you do. Rock on, girl.

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  63. I'm totally sold for this recipe and the beautiful shots! Your idea of avocado to make sauce is brilliant! I will definitely make it soon! Thanks for sharing! ;)

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  64. So great! When I first looked at the photo, I thought it was pesto (nuts/basil) but I'm loving the avocado! My favourite fruit/vegetable :)

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  65. Powerful food, indeed. I like to add a few spoons of soft goat cheese....

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  66. I saw this recipe on Oh She Glows and I wanted to make it. Seeing it on your site reminds me that I should make it soon. So healthy with the avocados and creamy yummy as well

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  67. Fantastic. I can almost taste that little surprising zip of lemon in every bite. And beautiful pics, as always? But really... TWENTY MILES? You put me to shame!!

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  68. How cute is that first pic!!! how fun a day with cate, loving this pasta dish!!!

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  69. I bet this would be incredible as a chilled pasta salad, too. The color is gorgeous.

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  70. This is such a beautiful beautiful looking pasta dish..cant take my eyes off the green..love it! Fresh basil + Avocado= heaven!!

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  71. Creamy, comforting, and deliciously healthy all at the same time. And it give superpowers? Perfect!

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  72. Who are those adorable children and why are they sucking on sugar???

    Seriously, your pasta dish sounds wonderful. We probably go through 3 avocados a week here. Luscious stuff! I've never had it with pasta though.

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  73. Yum! I am loving this; what a deliciously healthy dish. I definitely need to start eating like you:)

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  74. i need this pasta...and all the superpowers it comes with :D

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  75. You made avocado basil pesto...OF COURSE you have super powers! Nice job on the run, it sounds fantastic. This sauce is saved, dropped in "must-make" folder, and ready to be pulled out the next time my cape goes missing :-) Probably next week!

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  76. I have an avocado that has a day left before, I have to throw it out. This is perfect for me to use it up.

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  77. We love avocado sauce over pasta as well. Simple, creamy & very dreamy *sigh*

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  78. I officially LOVE this sauce! Can't wait to make it :), Miriam@Mealtess Meals For Meat Eaters

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  79. Very original! That pasta sauce looks and sounds wonderful. A great idea.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  80. This sauce is just perfect for an avocado freak like me. I want some for breakfast!

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  81. Excellent!! Blessings, Catherine xo

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  82. Happy fall everyone!. Richard from the Amish settlement of Lebanon,pa.

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  83. i don't think i can officially claim to be an avocado-lover anymore--i had no idea something like this could be done! phenomenal, joanne, and i mean that!

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  84. I saw this on Oh She Glows and have been eying it for awhile. Sounds simple but oh so good!

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  85. I heart avocados. Avocados and pasta have to be wonderful together. Must make soon. :)

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  86. I'm about to go to Costco and I'm having an inner debate. Do I buy avocados there? They are the best I've had but you have to buy a lot of them. Do I need a lot of them? Will I use them before they go bad? Etc etc etc. Thank you for solving the dilemma for me. I'm excited about this dish!

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  87. Another one to try. Bet a little mint in there instead of the basil would be nice too. Yum.

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  88. I bet it brings amazing super powers. I saw this on Oh She Glows and now I might have to make it. ;-)

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  89. I know what it is, but I swear I keep THINKING it is pesto every time I look at it.

    This sounds delicious!

    I hear the triple quarter pounder with cheese comes with a side order of Valtrex.

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  90. Is anyone experiencing any color changes in their area yet with the arrival of fall?. I really love this time of year and i think ranks as my 2nd favorite, with spring being number 1. Richard from Amish Stories.

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  91. Um, I'm pretty sure I will be eating this the night before my half-marathon. YUM!

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