Creamy Avocado Pasta Recipe

My favorite comfort meal will always be some sort of noodles - whether that's a takeout box full of pad see ew or a warm bowl of homemade pasta, noodles make my soul smile! I wanted to share a recipe I've been making this summer that's fresh, comforting, and a great way to use your fresh basil - creamy avocado pasta! It has so many great fresh summer flavors: bright lemon juice, fruity olive oil, aromatic basil, and creamy avocado and cheese! 

Creamy Avocado Pasta 

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado
• 2T fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/3c (a good handful) fresh basil 
• Drizzle of good olive oil, about 2-3t (this is mainly for flavor rather than texture, you can skip it if you want) 
• Red pepper flakes to taste, if desired 
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• 6-8 oz pasta + some reserved pasta water
  
• Fresh mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese, to top
• Sliced basil, to garnish

Directions:

1. Boil a pot of salted water for your pasta and cook pasta according to package directions.
   
2. Roughly chop your avocado, garlic, and basil.
3. Combine avocado, lemon juice, garlic, basil, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a food processor or small blender; blend until smooth. 
4. Once the pasta is done cooking, reserve about 1/2c of pasta water before draining the pasta. 
5. In the same pot you cooked your pasta in over low heat, add the avocado sauce and whisk in enough reserved pasta water to reach your desired sauce texture. Add the cooked pasta back in and stir everything together. 
6. Serve pasta into dishes and garnish with cheese, basil, and additional salt and pepper if desired. (I like dicing up fresh mozzarella and stirring it into the pasta when it's still hot - the cheese melts and it creates the yummiest gooey bites!)
   
7. Enjoy immediately! I've never tried to store leftovers of this sauce, but I don't think it would keep very well with the main ingredient being avocado, although the lemon juice should help keep it from oxidizing. If you try storing it, let me know how it works! 

PLEASE make this and let me know if you do - I know you'll love it! It's perfect enjoyed with a glass of crisp rosé in on the deck. 😉

xoxx, Laura