Smashed Avocado Pasta (Printable version)

Creamy avocado pasta with fresh lime and zesty chili flakes

# What you need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - 1 tablespoon salt for pasta water

→ Avocado Mixture

03 - 2 ripe avocados
04 - 1 lime, juiced and zested
05 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
07 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes, plus extra for garnish
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

09 - Fresh basil or cilantro leaves
10 - Grated Parmesan or vegan alternative
11 - Additional lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - Halve and pit avocados. Scoop flesh into a large bowl and mash until mostly smooth with desired texture.
03 - Add lime juice and zest, olive oil, minced garlic, chili flakes, salt, and pepper to mashed avocado. Mix thoroughly until fully incorporated.
04 - Add drained warm pasta to avocado mixture. Toss vigorously to coat, adding reserved pasta water gradually until achieving desired creamy consistency.
05 - Adjust seasoning if necessary. Plate immediately topped with fresh herbs, additional chili flakes, Parmesan, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in the time it takes pasta to cook, making it faster than delivery and infinitely more satisfying
  • That combination of creamy avocado, bright lime, and gentle heat hits every flavor note you didn't know you needed
02 -
  • The pasta water is absolutely essential because the starch helps bind the sauce to the noodles, creating that restaurant-quality coating that won't slide off
  • Work quickly once the pasta is done because the residual warmth is what transforms the mashed avocado into that gorgeous, glossy sauce
03 -
  • If your avocados aren't quite ripe enough, they won't mash properly, so have a backup plan or use slightly more olive oil to smooth things out
  • The difference between good and great here is lime zest, which adds those aromatic oils that juice alone can't provide
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