Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printer-friendly)

Vibrant mac with creamy avocado basil pesto sauce, ready in 30 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz macaroni or short pasta
02 - 1 tsp salt for pasta water

→ Avocado Pesto Sauce

03 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
04 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
05 - 2 cloves garlic
06 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
09 - 1/4 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant milk)
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

12 - Extra grated Parmesan
13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Cracked black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - While pasta cooks, combine avocados, basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, milk, salt, and black pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add a splash more milk if needed to reach a silky sauce consistency.
03 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Pour in the avocado pesto sauce and toss gently to coat. Add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, to loosen the sauce as needed.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan, basil, and black pepper if desired.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy satisfaction of mac and cheese but with the fresh vibrant kick of basil and the buttery richness of avocado
  • It comes together in thirty minutes flat but tastes like something from a restaurant that takes itself far too seriously
  • The sauce stays incredibly silky without needing any heavy cream or complicated roux techniques
02 -
  • The sauce does darken over time so serve this right after making it for the most stunning presentation possible
  • If your sauce feels too thick, use that reserved pasta water rather than adding more milk or oil
  • Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for one day but the color will deepen quite a bit
03 -
  • Use a really sharp knife to mince the garlic before adding it to the blender so you do not end up with any harsh raw chunks
  • If your avocados are not quite ripe enough, let them sit on the counter for a day or two rather than using hard ones that will make the sauce gritty
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