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Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto

December 20 2018 by Jessica 28 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.

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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!

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

Can’t get enough? Keep up to date with recipes and other fun at This Happy Mommy. Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+.

Print

Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto

Creamy Avocado Spinach Pesto
Print Recipe

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?

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If you love avocados, you may also enjoy Strawberry Guacamole

Strawberry Guacamole

Rich and Creamy Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Avocado Mediterranean Salad

Avocado Mediterranean Salad

If you love spinach, you may also enjoy Healthy Spinach Chocolate Chip Bites

Spinach Chocolate Chip Bites

Berry Spinach Smoothie

Berry Spinach Smoothie

Warm Avocado Quinoa Salad

WARM AVOCADO QUINOA SALAD

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE CREAMY AVOCADO SPINACH PESTO TO YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD AND RECIPE PINTEREST BOARD!

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

READY TO MAKE DINNER FASTER?


Dinnertime Starter GuideOur helpful guide shares the 3 simple steps to making dinner easier, plus tasty recipes too. It's a game changer - get our FREE guide for a limited time!

Filed Under: Healthy Recipes, Pasta, Noodles & Rice

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ParsiCuisine.com

    January 2 2019 at 9:10 pm

    Like the yummy pics!

    Reply
  2. Ann @ Live The Old Way

    January 1 2019 at 9:27 pm

    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! Thanks for sharing these with us at the Homestead Blog Hop!

    Reply
  3. Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons

    December 31 2018 at 6:44 pm

    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
  4. FrugalHausfrau

    December 30 2018 at 10:52 pm

    What a fun tradition to have pasta night. This looks like a very healthy and protein packed version! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!

    Mollie

    Reply
  5. Lisa Pomerantz

    December 28 2018 at 12:03 pm

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

    Reply
  6. helenfern

    December 27 2018 at 3:55 pm

    Avocado pesto?? What a delicious idea! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  7. madebydemi

    August 7 2016 at 8:42 am

    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

      August 7 2016 at 10:18 pm

      Thanks Demi!! Hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
  8. madebydemi

    August 7 2016 at 8:42 am

    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

      August 7 2016 at 10:18 pm

      Thanks Demi!! Hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
  9. Eric Johnson

    August 4 2016 at 10:34 pm

    You do amazing work.

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 5 2016 at 9:28 pm

      Thanks, Eric!! You’re so sweet!

      Reply
  10. Eric Johnson

    August 4 2016 at 10:34 pm

    You do amazing work.

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 5 2016 at 9:28 pm

      Thanks, Eric!! You’re so sweet!

      Reply
  11. somethinggreenacres

    August 4 2016 at 9:51 am

    Sounds yummy! I love avocado 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 4 2016 at 4:03 pm

      Thanks!! I love them too!! ?

      Reply
  12. somethinggreenacres

    August 4 2016 at 9:51 am

    Sounds yummy! I love avocado 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 4 2016 at 4:03 pm

      Thanks!! I love them too!! ?

      Reply
  13. mamacanilickthespoon

    August 4 2016 at 8:51 am

    Looks incredible! I love pesto!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 4 2016 at 4:02 pm

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

      Reply
  14. mamacanilickthespoon

    August 4 2016 at 8:51 am

    Looks incredible! I love pesto!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 4 2016 at 4:02 pm

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

      Reply
  15. Snapshotsincursive

    August 4 2016 at 7:35 am

    Incredible photos! Yumolicious! ?

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 4 2016 at 4:01 pm

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

      Reply
      • Snapshotsincursive

        August 4 2016 at 4:25 pm

        I knew it!!!

        Reply
  16. Snapshotsincursive

    August 4 2016 at 7:35 am

    Incredible photos! Yumolicious! ?

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 4 2016 at 4:01 pm

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

      Reply
      • Snapshotsincursive

        August 4 2016 at 4:25 pm

        I knew it!!!

        Reply

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