Veggie Smuggler Avocado Pasta (Printable)

Creamy avocado pasta with zucchini, spinach, and hidden veggies for a healthy 30-minute meal.

# 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)

# How to Make It:

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. Serve immediately, topped with Parmesan cheese, extra basil, and a sprinkle of lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce is impossibly creamy without a drop of heavy cream
  • Even vegetable-haters wont notice the zucchini and spinach hiding in plain sight
02 -
  • The sauce does not reheat well so serve it right away and enjoy the leftovers cold
  • Using frozen peas instead of fresh ones actually gives better texture and sweetness
03 -
  • Make the sauce while the pasta water boils so everything comes together at the same time
  • If the sauce looks gray rather than green your avocados were probably past their prime

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