Spinach Avocado Alfredo Sauce | The Recipe ReDux
Disclosure: The California Avocado Commission compensated The Recipe ReDux (co-owned by ReganMillerJones, Inc. and Teaspoon Communications), to sponsor this recipe contest. We are therefore not eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I also received a box of California avocados to use for recipe testing. My thoughts and opinions are my own and I've always been very open about my obsession for interest in all things avocado!
It's time for another Recipe ReDux member recipe challenge! (Sound fun? Consider join our community here!) This time, members were challenged to create the perfect summer get-together dish using California avocados, which are in peak season from March through September.
And, yes, I do love me some avocados - I've gone the sweet route with Avocado Ice Cream Pie, to chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup, to everything in between like Corn Avocado Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette and Avocado Fruit Dip.
So for this recipe, I came back to my Italian roots and another staple in my life: pasta. While I've never been a big fan of ultra rich Alfredo sauce, I liked the idea of doing a creamy sauce without the heaviness. I had been playing around with different pesto sauces recently and that's basically how this super green sauce came to be.
As a nutrient-dense fruit (yep, they are a fruit!), California avocados provide nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients for each serving (a 1-ounce serving is about ⅕th of a medium avocado.)
As for cutting them up, I usually cut them in half, dice and scoop but now I'm cutting them in fourths as I learned in this quick and nifty tutorial on How to Choose, Ripen, Store & Cut California Avocados
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Spinach Avocado Alfredo Sauce – The Recipe ReDux
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti or linguine (I use half whole wheat and half regular pasta)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 cups spinach
- 2 avocados, skin and pits removed
- ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup pasta water
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook past according to directions. Save 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- While pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add spinach and sauté with tongs until spinach is totally wilted, about 2 - 3 minutes.
- In a blender or food processor, add sautéed spinach, avocados, parsley, lemon juice, pepper and salt. Blend well. Slowly add ¾ cup pasta water and blend again (if sauce seems too thick, add a little more pasta water). Add in cheese and blend.
- In a large serving bowl, toss hot spaghetti with spinach avocado sauce. Sprinkle with more cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired, and serve.
What I love about this sauce is how quick and easy it is - whip it up for a creative spaghetti meal for last minute dinner guests or use as a base for a picnic pasta salad for a crowd. Leave out the cheese (if you must - I usually add in extra!) and it's vegan-friendly as well as heart-healthy.
Do you like avocados? What are your favorite ways to enjoy them? Check out the other healthy, delicious and creative avocado ideas coming out of Recipe ReDux members' kitchens below!
I love this!! And I *promise* I was thinking of doing something similar 🙂 #sharedbrain
But I didn't... so you'll just have to wait and see ....
Absolutely fabulous idea and such a gorgeous green color! I am seriously wishing I had a big bowl in front of me right now, and I just woke up. How do you think this would be with a steamy cup of coffee?? 🙂
Heck, avocados go with everything in my book! Did you see Elizabeth Eats yummy ice cream recipe ? How about coffee avocado ice cream??
Looks delicious! I love mock-alfredo sauces on pasta and always forget about creamy avocados! Love the combo of spinach as well. Have a great weekend!
My favorite way to eat avocado is to just slice them open, remove the pit, add salt, and eat it right out of the skin. I also love a fresh guacamole. I absolutely love this idea and twist on spaghetti. I am an avocado junky. They have so many nutrients in them and are a super food. So I eat them guilt free that's for sure. Thank you for this recipe. I will have to give it a try since it looks so healthy. Thank you for sharing.
You certainly can't beat eating it right out of the skin - I spread a few slices on homemade bread and that was lunch at the beach today 🙂 Avocado junkies, united!
Wow, every recipe you have posted on avocados looks and sounds delicious! I have 2 avocados in my refrigerator. Not sure which to try first. Thanks for sharing them all.
I have to say the same for your recipe, Diane - shrimp + avocados are two of my most favorite foods around 🙂
oh my...your Spinach Avocado Alfredo Sauce is gorgeous! i love that vibrant green...and anything with avocado! 🙂
what a fantastic idea!!!
Umm, your mint chocolate chip (avocado) ice cream recipe? Brilliant!
I really like all the spinach you used in this recipe. It is definitely a healthier version of alfredo sauce compared to the bottled versions out there. And, it looks so easy to prepare. Looks like a winner.
What a great combination! I love alfredo sauce and would have never thought to add avocado. YUM.
I'm digging your avocado tart - do you find a lot of avocado in Hawaiian dishes?
Love this! We are huge fans of avocado at this house, so this Avocado Alfredo is perfect. Pinning and sharing! 🙂
Thanks Krista - let me know if you make it!
You are so creative, Deanna! I like how you think ;). I stay away from alfredo sauce like the plague as I know how calorically damaging it is. But I wouldn't feel guilty one bit eating a bowl of this. And yes, I LOVE avocados. I add them to salads, sandwiches, dips...sky is the limit!
What a beautiful dish! Such a vibrant color and full of nutrients. I'm giving this one a try.
love this idea! reminds me of an even healthier pesto... if only these round-ups were real-life pot-lucks... i'd weigh a million pounds.
This looks to die for! I love pesto and you combined it with avocado? Brilliant! Will be trying this week!
I just made this today. So delicious! This one is definitely a keeper. Thank you!
I'm so glad - thanks so much for sharing the outcome! I just made this last week again.