Easy Creamy Avocado Pasta With Fresh Greens and Garlic

Ingredients

• 8 ounces spaghetti, linguine, or another long pasta
• 1 large ripe avocado
• 1 generous cup fresh green leaves, such as basil or baby spinach
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for the pasta water
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, added gradually
• Optional: 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice for brightness
• Optional: grated Parmesan, chili flakes, or extra herbs for serving

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water. The starchy water helps loosen the avocado mixture and makes the finished sauce cling to the noodles.

Frame extracted directly from the supplied video.

Step 2: Add Avocado and Fresh Greens to the Blender

Place the ripe avocado into a personal blender cup. Add the fresh green leaves. The video clearly shows avocado pieces and a large handful of leafy greens being added before the remaining seasonings.

Avocado and greens shown in the original video.

Step 3: Add Garlic, Olive Oil and Pepper

Add the garlic cloves and olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If you want a brighter sauce, add a little lemon juice. The lemon is optional here because it is not clearly identifiable in the video, but it works very well with avocado.

Garlic and freshly ground pepper are visible in this extracted frame.

Step 4: Blend Until Smooth

Secure the blender lid and blend until the mixture becomes smooth and vivid green. If the sauce is too thick to move freely, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time. Keep blending until it has a creamy, pourable texture.

The avocado mixture being blended until smooth.

Step 5: Pour the Avocado Sauce Over the Pasta

Drain the cooked pasta and transfer it to a wide pan. Pour the freshly blended green sauce directly over the noodles. Start with most of the sauce, then add more as needed so that every strand is well coated.

Bright-green avocado sauce being poured over the cooked pasta.

Step 6: Toss Until Creamy

Toss the pasta and avocado sauce together over very low heat or with the burner turned off. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if necessary. Continue tossing until the sauce looks smooth, glossy and evenly distributed.

The final mixing step from the supplied video.

Why This Avocado Pasta Works

Avocado naturally creates a thick, buttery texture when blended. Olive oil gives the sauce extra silkiness, garlic adds savory flavor, and the fresh greens make the color even more vivid. Starchy pasta water helps turn the blended mixture into a sauce instead of a dip.

Tips for the Best Texture

• Use a ripe avocado that gives slightly when gently pressed.
• Blend the sauce until no visible pieces of garlic or greens remain.
• Add pasta water slowly so you do not make the sauce too thin.
• Avoid boiling the finished avocado sauce for a long time.
• Serve the pasta soon after mixing for the freshest green color.

Easy Variations

You can add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, chickpeas, peas, cherry tomatoes, roasted broccoli or spinach. For a richer finish, sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top. For heat, add crushed red-pepper flakes.

Amazon Kitchen Tools for This Recipe

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

NutriBullet Personal Blender

This compact 700-watt personal blender is well suited for blending a small batch of avocado, leafy greens, garlic and olive oil into a smooth pasta sauce.

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Cuisinart Stainless Steel Saucepan

A stainless steel saucepan is useful for boiling pasta and reserving the starchy cooking water used to loosen the avocado sauce.

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How to Store Leftovers

Avocado naturally darkens after it is exposed to air, so this recipe is best eaten fresh. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat them as soon as practical. Stir in a splash of water and a little lemon juice before reheating gently.