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Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto Pasta

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A quick and easy creamy avocado basil pesto pasta with burst cherry tomatoes that offers a fresh, indulgent, and comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts or toasted walnuts
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (or vegetarian hard cheese)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 12 oz (340 g) pasta of choice (linguine or fettuccine preferred)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sautéing tomatoes)
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, add avocados, basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse to combine, then slowly stream in olive oil until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the pesto.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes soften and burst, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Add drained pasta back to the pot or a large bowl. Spoon the avocado basil pesto over the pasta and toss gently to coat. Add reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency.
  5. Transfer pasta to serving plates. Spoon sautéed burst cherry tomatoes on top. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use ripe but firm avocados for best creaminess. Drizzle olive oil slowly when blending pesto for a silky texture. Reserve pasta water to loosen pesto sauce if needed. Cook tomatoes on medium heat to achieve perfect burst without mush. Lemon juice helps prevent avocado browning. Variations include using gluten-free pasta, omitting Parmesan for vegan version, or adding spinach/arugula for extra greens.

Nutrition

Keywords: avocado pesto pasta, creamy avocado pasta, basil pesto, cherry tomato pasta, easy pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, quick dinner

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/creamy-avocado-basil-pesto-pasta-recipe-easy-homemade-burst-cherry-tomato-dish/