This Easy Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta is a delightful lunch or dinner idea that comes together quickly using only a few simple and wholesome ingredients. It is delicious, healthy, naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Let me be honest with you. I was never really a fan of any pesto. I know I am a weirdo, and you could ask why I'm sharing this recipe with you then.
The answer is simple: because this avocado pesto is delicious!
Since I am training for my second marathon, I always try to cook something quick, delicious and nutritious. It was also a hot summer day when I first tried this recipe. I wanted to make a cold avocado pasta salad, and by the time I was testing it, adding and changing a few ingredients, it turned out that I needed an avocado pesto pasta.
Fun fact: You can still eat it as a cold pasta salad. So it's perfect!
Jump to:
- Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta
- What is the difference between vegan pesto and traditional pesto?
- Why you will love this recipe
- what you will need to make this avocado pesto pasta
- How to make this Easy Avocado Pesto Pasta
- SUBSTITUTIONS & VARIATIONS
- How to store
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- More easy pasta recipes to try
- 15 minute Easy Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta
- More recipes you will love
Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta
This Easy Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta will be ready in 15 minutes. While your pasta is cooking, you can make your pesto, then combine it with the sauce, et voila. The lunch can be served.
Bonus point: You only need a few simple and wholesome ingredients to make this delicious pesto pasta. So, this recipe is perfect for those without time to spend in the kitchen, but still want to eat a nutritious, vegan, gluten-free meal.
What is the difference between vegan pesto and traditional pesto?
The main difference between vegan pesto and traditional pesto lies in their ingredients.
The traditional pesto from Italy is made using a classic combination of fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt. In vegan pesto, Parmesan cheese is replaced with nutritional yeast, ( like I did ) a common ingredient in vegan cooking that imparts a cheesy flavour. Or you can make it with vegan parmesan cheese as well.
Why you will love this recipe
- Delicious
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Quick to make
- Nutritious
There's nothing not to like about this recipe. It is also creamy, garlicky, fresh, lemony and nutty with a slightly tangy flavour. To keep the dish gluten-free, simply use gluten-free pasta.
what you will need to make this avocado pesto pasta
Here's what you will need to make this easy vegan avocado pesto pasta:
- Pasta of your choice, such as linguine, spaghetti, penne or rigatoni.
- Avocado: Of course, the star of the show.
- Garlic: For the extra flavour.
- Basil: For the aromatic herbal fragrance. ( no stems )
- Pine nuts will add a creamy, rich, nutty flavour to the sauce.
- Lemon: For the fresh and zesty flavour. It will enhance the overall balance of the sauce and help preserve the vibrant green colour of the pesto.
- Olive oil: For the smooth and creamy texture. Olive oil can significantly impact the flavour and overall quality of your pesto.
- Nutritional yeast: For the cheesy flavour.
- Salt & pepper: Season to taste.
For the full recipe and quantities, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to make this Easy Avocado Pesto Pasta
Here's a simple recipe to make this easy and flavourful vegan dish:
- Firstly, cook the pasta according to package instructions and set aside.
- Meanwhile, combine the ripe avocados, fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, cooking water and a pinch of salt in a food processor and pulse until the ingredients are well blended and you have a smooth and creamy texture. You can adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed.
- Taste the avocado pesto and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. If you like a bit of heat, you can also add red pepper flakes.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the avocado pesto until the pasta is well coated with the sauce. If the pesto is too thick, you can add a splash of pasta cooking water to thin it out.
- Serve the avocado pesto pasta in individual bowls. Garnish with nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. ENJOY!
Serve it as its own or with a slice of delicious garlic bread.
SUBSTITUTIONS & VARIATIONS
- Pine nuts - Other nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds, can be used as a substitute for pine nuts in vegan pesto if you'd like to make it a bit cheaper or you don't have it at home.
- Vegan parmesan cheese - To make this delicious vegan pesto, you can use vegan parmesan cheese instead of nutritional yeast. Both would work well with this recipe. Thankfully, swapping for a plant-based version of any cheese is easy nowadays.
- Veggies - Adding sautéed or roasted vegetables like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, or spinach can enhance the flavours and nutritional content of the dish.
- Spicy - Add fresh chilli flakes if you like a bit of heat.
- Gluten-free - If you follow a gluten-free diet and would like to keep it gluten-free, simply use gluten-free pasta to make this dish.
How to store
Avocado pesto is best enjoyed shortly after making it. If you're planning to serve it, try to make it closer to mealtime to keep it looking fresh. But if you have any leftovers, you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for three days. Remember, some browning may still occur due to the nature of avocados. However, lemon juice is a natural antioxidant and can help slow down the browning process.
When storing avocado pesto, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pesto before sealing the container. This minimizes the exposure to air and prevents browning.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you can prepare the avocado pesto ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, mixing the pesto with freshly cooked pasta just before serving is best to prevent browning and maintain the best texture.
Generally, any pasta shape works well with avocado pesto. Spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, or tagliatelle pasta are all popular choices. Use your favorite pasta shape!
While freezing the entire dish may not yield the best results due to the avocado's texture changing upon thawing, you can freeze the pesto portion separately. Freeze pesto in ice cube trays, then transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer-safe bag. Thaw and mix with freshly cooked pasta when ready to serve.
More easy pasta recipes to try
- Pasta with Vegan Cream Cheese and Cherry Tomatoes
- Quick and Easy Vegan Sausage Pasta
- Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
- Easy and Creamy Cashew Alfredo Sauce
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Thank you for joining me in the kitchen and trying this delicious recipe! Your feedback means the world to me, so if you loved this dish, don't forget to rate the recipe and share your thoughts in the comments below. And hey, let's connect on Instagram too! If you share your creations and tag me @plantnspice, I'd be thrilled to see your delicious masterpiece.
Happy cooking and happy eating!
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15 minute Easy Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Easy Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta is a delightful lunch or dinner idea that comes together quickly using only a few simple and wholesome ingredients. It is delicious, healthy, naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 225 g pasta of your choice
- 1 avocado
- 3 garlic
- 10 g basil
- juice of 1 small lemon
- 15 g pine nuts
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 80 ml cooking water
Instructions
- Firstly, cook the pasta according to package instructions and set aside.
- Meanwhile, combine the ripe avocados, fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, cooking water and a pinch of salt in a food processor and pulse until the ingredients are well blended and you have a smooth and creamy texture. You can adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed.
- Taste the avocado pesto and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. If you like a bit of heat, you can also add red pepper flakes.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the avocado pesto until the pasta is well coated with the sauce. If the pesto is too thick, you can add a splash of pasta cooking water to thin it out.
- Serve the avocado pesto pasta in individual bowls. Garnish with nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. ENJOY!
Notes
Remember, some browning may still occur due to the nature of avocados. However, lemon juice is a natural antioxidant and can help slow down the browning process.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Lunch
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: pasta, pesto pasta, avocado, vegan
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