ADVERTISEMENT
Avocados are, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite foods! They’re healthy, rich, and irresistibly creamy.
I love adding avocados to salads, spreading them on crackers, or making avocado toast for breakfast—something I enjoy multiple times a week! One of my go-to recipes is an Avocado Dressing & Dip. The velvety texture of avocados makes them a perfect substitute for mayonnaise, creating a dressing that’s both flavorful and smooth.
Now that summer is here, I’m all about meals that don’t require turning on the oven. Cold pasta salads are a perfect solution! They’re easy to prepare in advance, make for a well-rounded meal (packed with protein and veggies), and are a hit with the kids—especially before we dash out to soccer practice. Even better, any leftovers make for a quick and delicious lunch the next day (if we’re lucky enough to have some left!).
Avocado Pasta Salad Ingredients
This recipe combines my favorite avocado-based dressing with the ingredients I typically use for avocado toast, resulting in a flavor-packed dish! It features juicy, ripe tomatoes, crisp smoky bacon, fresh cilantro, a hint of green onion, and creamy diced avocados. The star of the show is the luscious avocado dressing—silky, flavorful, and utterly delightful. For a heartier meal, I often add chopped grilled or rotisserie chicken.
Avocados are not just delicious; they’re also incredibly nutritious. Their creamy texture comes from monounsaturated fats, which are considered healthy fats that can help lower cholesterol when eaten in moderation.
Avocado Tips:
. Speed Up Ripening: Place avocados in a paper bag with ripe bananas. The ethylene gas released by the bananas will help the avocados ripen faster.
. Storage: Once ripe, avocados can be stored in the fridge for 4-6 days.
. Prevent Browning: To store a cut avocado, brush the exposed surface with lemon or lime juice, then wrap it in plastic before refrigerating. This helps slow down browning.
. Freezing: Have extra ripe avocados? Scoop out the flesh, add 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice per avocado, puree in a blender, and freeze in a freezer bag. Defrosted avocado works wonderfully in recipes like this one or for guacamole.
. Skin Benefits: Don’t toss those avocado peels! Rub them on your elbows or heels to enjoy some of their natural skin-nourishing benefits.
“A creamy, refreshing pasta salad featuring ripe avocados, fresh vegetables, and a zesty dressing. Perfect for a light meal or a crowd-pleasing side dish!”
Ingredients
For the Salad:
. 8 ounces pasta (penne, rotini, or bow-tie)
. 2 ripe avocados, diced
. 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
. 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
. 1 cup cucumber, diced
. 1/2 cup sweet corn, cooked or canned (drained)
. 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional)
For the Dressing:
. 1 ripe avocado
. 1/4 cup olive oil
. 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (or lemon juice)
. 1 clove garlic, minced
. 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
. 1/4 teaspoon cumin (optional, for a smoky flavor)
. Salt and black pepper, to taste
. 2 tablespoons water (to thin the dressing if needed)
Instructions
Please continue to the next page (>) for the full list of ingredients and complete cooking instructions. Enjoy this meal!
ADVERTISEMENT