Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printable version)

A vibrant twist on classic mac and cheese featuring creamy avocado basil pesto sauce tossed with tender pasta.

# What You’ll 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 fresh lemon juice
09 - 1/4 cup milk, dairy or plant-based unsweetened
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

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 through a colander.
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 additional milk if needed to achieve 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 gradually to loosen the sauce to desired consistency.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves, and cracked black pepper.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers restaurant quality creaminess without any heavy cream or butter
  • The sauce comes together in minutes while your pasta cooks
  • You can customize it endlessly with whatever vegetables or nuts you have on hand
02 -
  • The sauce will thicken as it sits, so err on the slightly thinner side when blending
  • Work quickly once the sauce is made because avocado can start to brown with prolonged air exposure
  • Leftovers will keep for one day but the vibrant green color will darken
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly into a cohesive sauce
  • Toast some pine nuts or walnuts and sprinkle them on top for amazing crunch
  • A microplane makes grating the Parmesan easier and helps it incorporate better
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