Avocado Broccoli Pasta
Avocado Broccoli Pasta with creamy avocado sauce, fresh broccoli, and Parmesan - a healthy, quick vegetarian dinner ready in just 25 minutes with vibrant flavors.
Equipment
- large pot
- blender or food processor
- colander
- skillet or frying pan
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dried fettuccine pasta
- 1 pound fresh broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 ripe avocados peeled and pitted
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves packed
- 1/3 cup extra-light olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for pasta water
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the fettuccine and cook according to package directions until al dente. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets directly to the pasta pot to cook until bright green and tender-crisp.
- While the pasta cooks, make the avocado sauce. In a blender or food processor, combine the pitted avocados, minced garlic, basil leaves, 1/3 cup of extra-light olive oil, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and broccoli in a colander.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of extra-light olive oil in the large, now-empty pot or a large skillet over medium heat. Add the drained pasta and broccoli back to the pot. Pour the blended avocado sauce over the top.
- Gently toss everything together, adding the reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until the sauce lightly coats all the pasta. Stir in the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan.
Notes
Add the red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Serve immediately for the best texture.