Veggie Smuggler Avocado Pasta (Printable version)

Creamy avocado sauce with hidden zucchini, spinach, and broccoli coats tender pasta for a quick, healthy dinner.

# What you'll need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz whole wheat or regular spaghetti or linguine

→ Avocado Sauce

02 - 2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
03 - 1 small zucchini, roughly chopped
04 - 1 cup baby spinach
05 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
06 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
07 - 2 cloves garlic
08 - 1/4 cup olive oil
09 - 3-4 tbsp unsweetened plant-based milk or dairy milk
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Hidden Veggies

11 - 1 cup broccoli florets, steamed
12 - 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

→ Garnish

13 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese or vegan alternative
14 - Chopped fresh basil (optional)
15 - Lemon zest (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
02 - While the pasta cooks, steam the broccoli florets until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
03 - In a blender or food processor, combine avocados, zucchini, spinach, basil, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and 3 tbsp milk. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more milk if needed for a silky sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, toss the hot drained pasta with the avocado sauce, broccoli, and peas. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta well.
05 - Serve immediately, topped with Parmesan cheese, extra basil, and a sprinkle of lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce is velvety and luxurious without any cream or butter
  • You can literally hide whatever vegetables need using up
  • It comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta
02 -
  • The sauce will thicken as it sits, so add that pasta water even if it looks loose at first
  • Avocado sauce does not reheat well due to oxidation, so make only what you will eat
  • Adding a teaspoon of olive oil to the boiling water helps prevent the pasta from sticking
03 -
  • If your avocados are not perfectly ripe, the sauce will have a slightly grainy texture
  • A high-speed blender makes a noticeable difference in achieving restaurant-smooth results

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