Creamy Avocado Pasta with Lemon and Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 poundpasta
- 2avocado (ripe)
- 1lemon
- 3 clovesgarlic
- 3 tablespoonolive oil
- ·salt
- ·black pepper
- ¼ teaspoonred pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cupparmesan cheese (optional)
Prep
- 01
Mince 3 cloves garlic.
- 02
Zest 1 lemon, then juice it.
Method
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente; reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- 02
While pasta cooks, halve avocados and scoop flesh into a bowl. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth but still slightly chunky. Zest lemon and add zest to avocado.
- 03
Juice the lemon into the avocado mixture. Gently stir to combine without overworking.
- 04
Mince garlic and warm olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook garlic gently for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant but not browned.
- 05
Transfer hot pasta to a large bowl. Pour garlic oil over pasta, then add avocado mixture and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss gently, adding more pasta water as needed to reach a silky, loose consistency.
- 06
Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Divide into bowls, sprinkle with red pepper flakes and parmesan if desired, and serve immediately.
Spice Tips
For warmth and subtle heat, increase red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon or add a pinch of fresh black pepper to the avocado. A small handful of fresh basil or parsley stirred in at the end brightens the dish. For a richer flavor, crack more fresh black pepper over each bowl just before serving.
This dish comes together fastest when the avocado is perfectly ripe but not oversoft. If avocados aren't quite ready, ripen them in a paper bag at room temperature for a day or two. The hot pasta and reserved starchy water create an emulsion that coats everything beautifully — no cream needed.