Amazing Avocado Pesto Pasta – plant-based on a budget

How to make super creamy and delicious 7 ingredient avocado pesto perfect for sandwiches, wraps, pizza and a quick and nutritious 15 minute avocado pesto pasta. + Oil-free and nut-free variants included!

Creamy Healthy 7-Ingredient Avocado Basil Pesto (with Pasta)

If guacamole basil pesto had a child, it would be this dreamy, creamy avocado pesto. While we’re no strangers to sneaking avocado into all kinds of flavors (like chocolate avocado pudding and vegan milkshakes), we think this avocado basil pesto can be a stroke of genius — especially when paired with pasta, to make an easy, quick and nutritious mid-week meal!

With ingredients like high-quality Parmesan and pine nuts, pesto isn’t exactly known for being particularly frugal (or vegan), which is why we like to reach for cheap and diet-friendly alternatives like Parsley Pesto with Arugula, Vegan Basil Sunflower Seed Pesto, and now this Avocado Basil Pesto.

Avocados are packed with heart-healthy fats (and antioxidants — yay) and a creamy richness that adds a wonderfully silky, flavorful element to homemade pesto, making it one of our most-used pesto recipes to date. However, our current favorite is to add just a few extra steps to make creamy avocado pesto pasta.

Best of all, the process is so simple: just add everything to a food processor or blender while the pasta cooks, combine them, and in just 10 to 15 minutes you have a delicious meal that’s creamy, affordable, easy to prepare and full of flavor.

The ingredients

This basil and avocado pesto only requires 7 simple staples (plus salt and pepper). It’s already inherently dairy-free, whole food, low-carb, and vegan, and with a simple ingredient swap, you can make it oil-free or nut-free, too.

• Avocado: Use a good quality, ripe to overripe avocado. If it’s too ripe, the basil avocado pesto can taste bitter.
• Basil: You’ll need plenty of fresh basil leaves (not stems).
• nuts/seeds: We usually use unsalted walnuts or pistachios. However, you could go nut-free with raw sunflower seeds or hemp seeds.
• Olive oil: Use high quality extra virgin olive oil for a silky smooth texture.

Since avocado already adds heart-healthy fats, feel free to do so Omit the oil and use water (or vegetable broth). Instead, dilute the avocado pesto sauce to desired consistency.

• Garlic: No pesto is complete without garlic. Use roasted garlic for a milder flavor and adjust to taste. Use garlic powder in a pinch (to taste).
• lemon juice: We prefer fresh lemon juice, but bottles work, too. Add some lemon zest for extra zing. Adjust the amounts to taste.
• Cumin: (optional) To add extra depth of flavor to the avocado basil pesto.
• Salt & Black Pepper: Season to taste.

To prepare Avocado Pesto Pasta, You also need the noodles of your choice (normal or gluten-free pasta). Alternative, gnocchi would also go, resp Go low-carb with zucchini pasta.

How do I replace basil in pesto?

You can use several other greens in this avocado pesto recipe including parsley, baby spinach, baby cabbage, arugula, or a combination of greens. You can also reduce food waste by using carrot greens, beet greens, etc.

What else could I add?

• nutritional yeast: To add a cheesy flavor instead of Parmesan cheese, add nutritional yeast. It’s nutty, “cheesy,” and packed with umami flavor.
• Paprika flakes/ chili: To add some spice.

How to make 5 Minute Avocado Pesto?

• 1) Place the nuts in a food processor or high speed blender and blend until the nuts are broken down into a medium-fine crumb.

• 2) Add avocado, basil, garlic, cumin and process. While mixing, slowly drizzle in the oil. Pause to scrape down the sides as needed.

• 3) Taste and adjust all ingredients (garlic, salt, pepper, etc.) and add lemon juice to taste.

Prepare Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta:

• 1) Cook your pasta of choice according to package directions while preparing the avocado pesto.
• 2) Reserve a cup of pasta water and then toss the pasta and pesto together, adding the pasta water to thin the pesto and help it stick to the pasta.

• 3) Optionally add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a little more salt and pepper to garnish. Enjoy!

recipe notes

• Economical top tip: Growing herbs (like basil) is a great way to save money. Pick off the leaves you need and let them fill you up again.
• For oil–for free Avocado pesto: Use water or vegetable broth instead.
• Prepare pasta salad: Cook the pasta ahead of time and let cool before adding the pesto and additional veggies.
• Adjust the consistency: Dilute with water or vegetable broth to desired level (i.e. for dipping or drizzling).
• Adjust the texture: Process/mix to your desired consistency.
• taste: Adjust the amount of garlic, lemon, salt and pepper, etc.

Storage Instructions

Recipes that use fresh avocado don’t usually store very well, as the avocado flesh turns brown as it oxidizes. Luckily, lemon juice can help temporarily, and you can store this vegan avocado pesto indoors in an airtight container Fridge for 2-3 days (maybe even longer if you are lucky and follow the tip below).

Keep it as long as possible before tanning Press plastic wrap Place directly on top of the pesto or cover with a thin layer of olive oil or water.

You can also freeze any leftovers. Place 1-2 tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray (optionally covered with a thin layer of olive oil) and freeze until set, then place cubes in a ziplock/stasher bag for storage between uses 3-4 months.

serving suggestions

Aside from enjoying bowls of creamy avocado pesto pasta, there are many other ways to enjoy this vegan pesto including:

• Stirred into vegan Mac n’ Cheese
• Add some to vegan lasagna
• Toss it in cereal or a cereal salad (like a quinoa salad, couscous, etc.)
• Spread on toast, sandwiches, paninis, vegan grilled cheese, bagels, etc. like this Tofu Pesto Sandwich or Savory Pesto Bagels.
• As a layer over crostini or bruschetta
• For drizzling over or dipping grilled roast vegetables – like crispy cauliflower.
• As part of a vegan cheese platter/sausage platter or pasture platter.
• For vegan nachos, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, etc.
• Dabbed onto (cooked) pizza, like Mediterranean hummus pizza or calzone.

You can also dilute it with water or vegetable broth and drizzle over it, or toss it into salads like a leafy greens, potato salad, or vegan caprese.

More vegan sauces and dressings

You might also like our easy avocado guide.

Photos from Alfonso Revilla