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Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto

December 20 2018 by Jessica 35 Comments

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Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. 

Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. | healthy pasta recipe | pesto pasta recipe | quick and easy pasta sauce | clean eating pesto pasta recipes | vegetarian pasta recipe | #recipe #healthyrecipe #pasta #pesto #pastarecipe #30minutemeal | thishappymommy.com

There’s nothing like pasta. It’s the ultimate comfort food and it’s good for you too. Don’t shy away from this carby meal – enjoy it. With each twirly, whirly forkful, you can indulge in a tasty dish that’s healthy too.

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As a kid, I used to look forward to pasta dinners. While we never had Pasta Tuesday, I could always guarantee on one pasta-filled dinner each week. Sometimes there would be a simple tomato sauce, other times it would be macaroni and cheese. However we ate it, pasta was always a favourite meal.

Today, pasta night is still a hit. Whether it’s a light marinara sauce or a veggie-packed pasta sauce, pasta night is a favourite night. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is sure to please and it’s a tasty addition to any pasta night!  

Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. | healthy pasta recipe | pesto pasta recipe | quick and easy pasta sauce | clean eating pesto pasta recipes | vegetarian pasta recipe | #recipe #healthyrecipe #pasta #pesto #pastarecipe #30minutemeal | thishappymommy.com
Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. | healthy pasta recipe | pesto pasta recipe | quick and easy pasta sauce | clean eating pesto pasta recipes | vegetarian pasta recipe | #recipe #healthyrecipe #pasta #pesto #pastarecipe #30minutemeal | thishappymommy.com

Now, let’s talk pesto. With a mix of fabulously fresh flavours, pesto tastes great on practically anything. From pizza to pasta and chicken to fish, pesto is super versatile. Plus, you can make it with almost anything. Try it with sun dried tomatoes, basil or avocados. Any way you make it, pesto is a quick, easy and crave-worthy sauce.

Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. | healthy pasta recipe | pesto pasta recipe | quick and easy pasta sauce | clean eating pesto pasta recipes | vegetarian pasta recipe | #recipe #healthyrecipe #pasta #pesto #pastarecipe #30minutemeal | thishappymommy.com

How to Make Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto

Traditional pesto sauce has a real nutty taste. To replicate that, Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is made with toasted almonds. Roasting the almonds enhances the nutty flavour, which permeates through the whole sauce. When it’s combined with avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon and cottage cheese, you have a perfectly creamy sauce with an unbelievable nutty crunch.

Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto sauce comes together really easily. Simply toss all of the sauce ingredients in a food processor and let it do the work. Before you know it, the sauce is done.

All that’s left is sautéeing the mushrooms and adding chopped tomatoes. You don’t want to leave out the mushrooms and tomatoes. They add texture, colour, but most importantly flavour. The mushrooms enhance the creaminess of the sauce, while the tomatoes add a subtle sweet touch. Yum!

YOUR DINNER IS PLANNED


Easy Weeknight DinnersGrab my done-for-you dinner plan with simple, 5-ingredient meals and a grocery list, so you don’t have to figure out dinner this week.

Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. | healthy pasta recipe | pesto pasta recipe | quick and easy pasta sauce | clean eating pesto pasta recipes | vegetarian pasta recipe | #recipe #healthyrecipe #pasta #pesto #pastarecipe #30minutemeal | thishappymommy.com

Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto never lasts long in our house. If you have any leftover, this pesto lasts for three days in the fridge (maybe longer!). The combination of ingredients stops the avocados from turning brown. So you can enjoy the fresh flavour for many days to come.

Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese, and almonds. Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a herb and nutty flavour. | healthy pasta recipe | pesto pasta recipe | quick and easy pasta sauce | clean eating pesto pasta recipes | vegetarian pasta recipe | #recipe #healthyrecipe #pasta #pesto #pastarecipe #30minutemeal | thishappymommy.com

Looking for the perfect dish to serve with Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto?

  • Healthy Blackened Salmon
  • Tomato Baked Chicken
  • Warm Avocado Quinoa Salad
  • Apple Beer Bread
  • The Best Two Bite Brownies

After you make Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto, please add a comment below and give it a star rating! I love hearing how much your family enjoys these meals.

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Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto

Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto
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5 from 19 reviews

A delicious 30-minute pasta dish that’s filled with a wonderful mix of flavours. Packed full of avocados, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, cottage cheese and almonds, this mouth-watering sauce is as healthy as it is tasty. Everyone will enjoy this crowd-pleasing pasta dish with a truly nutty bite.

  • Author: Jessica
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 25 mins
  • Yield: 4 to 5 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 (12 ounce) package pasta
  • 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • 1 large tomato, chopped
  • 1/2 cup blanched almonds, sliced
  • 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup basil leaves, fresh
  • 1 clove garlic, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
  2. Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper. Evenly spread out almond slices. Bake for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip almond slices. Bake for 2 more minutes, or until desired colour.
  3. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  4. In a food processor, combine avocados, spinach, almonds, cottage cheese, basil, garlic and lemon juice. Process until well combined.
  5. In a medium saucepan, saute mushrooms for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they release their water.
  6. Transfer cooked pasta to serving bowl. Toss with sauce. Top with tomatoes and mushrooms.
  7. Plate and enjoy!

♥ Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment and give it a 5-star rating below to share your experience, or tag @thishappymommy on Instagram to share your creations!

YOUR DINNER IS PLANNED


Easy Weeknight DinnersGrab my done-for-you dinner plan with simple, 5-ingredient meals and a grocery list, so you don’t have to figure out dinner this week.

Previous Post: « Skinny Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Next Post: Mint Chocolate Chip Bites »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Parsi

    at

    Like the yummy pics!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Parsi!

      Reply
  2. Ann

    at

    I really like how you have links to your other recipes that are similar! Last week I saw your Salmon recipe was the same way and I wound up pinning more than just the one I originally saw. Nice!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Ann!! Hope you enjoy all the recipes.

      Reply
  3. Liz

    at

    What an interesting addition to the pesto family. There can never be enough avocado in anything! Happy New Year and thank you for bringing this to FF.

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Liz! Pesto is the best. I can’t get enough avocado, too!!

      Reply
  4. Mollie

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    What a fun tradition to have pasta night. This looks like a very healthy and protein packed version!

    Reply
    • Jessica

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      Thanks Mollie! It’s healthy and oh, so good!!

      Reply
  5. Lisa Pomerantz

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    I love these recipes! Anything with avocado is just so yummy! Thank you! xo

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Lisa!! I agree, avocado is such a tasty addition to any meal.

      Reply
  6. helenfern

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    Avocado pesto?? What a delicious idea!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Helen!!

      Reply
  7. Dorothy

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    This was so easy to make and everyone loved it.

    Reply
    • Jessica

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      Thanks Dorothy!! I love hearing that.

      Reply
  8. Demi

    at

    I LOVE pesto and I was recently looking for a easy quick recipe that is as yummy as yours!! Thanks for sharing!! This week the menu will have pesto for sure :)

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Demi!! Hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
  9. Eric Johnson

    at

    You do amazing work.

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks, Eric!! You’re so sweet!

      Reply
  10. Elly

    at

    Wow! I love this!!

    Reply
    • Jessica

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      Thanks, Elly.

      Reply
  11. Sara

    at

    Sounds yummy! I love avocado :)

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks!! I love them too!!

      Reply
  12. Sallie

    at

    I love the idea of this. Can’t wait to make it.

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks Sallie!

      Reply
  13. Morgana

    at

    So good! I love pesto!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks!! Me too, pesto is one of my favorites.

      Reply
  14. Molly

    at

    Looks incredible! I love pesto!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks!! Pesto is one of my favorites, too!

      Reply
  15. Susie

    at

    Incredible photos! Yumolicious!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      Thanks!! It’s as yummy as it looks!

      Reply
      • Susie

        at

        I knew it!!!

        Reply
  16. Samantha

    at

    Made this last night and it was a hit!!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      at

      I love hearing that. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Samantha

        at

        I’ll be making it again!!

        Reply

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