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    Home » Recipes » Blender sauces and salad dressings

    Avocado Pesto Pasta

    May 30, 2023 by Becky Striepe
    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    bowl of vegan avocado pasta topped with chopped tomato, text overlay
    bowl of vegan avocado pasta topped with chopped tomato
    spooning vegan avocado pesto out of a jar

    Looking for an easy meal that's rich and creamy without added oil? This delicious, basil-y vegan avocado pasta is IT!

    bowl of vegan avocado pasta topped with chopped tomato
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make vegan avocado pasta
    • Helpful tip
    • Serving and storage directions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More avocado goodness!
    • Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta

    I'm by no means an oil-free cook, so you know that if I'm sharing an oil-free recipe, it's a banger. This oil-free, vegan avocado pesto pasta is rich. creamy, and decadent.

    This is a very easy blender sauce. You truly throw everything into the blender and puree until you have a nice, smooth pesto.

    You can make this recipe nut-free, if you want! Just replace the cashews with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead.

    You'll see in the recipe below that nutritional yeast is optional. I love nooch in avocado pesto. It adds that hint of cheesiness that you'd normally get from Parmesan cheese. If you don't like or can't find nooch, though, this pesto is lovely without it, as well.

    The only other thing I want to talk about before we start cooking is the water. Think of ¼ cup as a starting point. You may need to add another tablespoon or two of water, to get your desired consistency.

    This depends on the size of your avocado, your blender, whether you use nutritional yeast, and what consistency you're going for with your finished avocado pasta.

    avocado, basil, and other vegan avocado pesto pasta ingredients in bowls on a marble table

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • pasta - Choose your favorite! For vegan avocado pasta, I prefer something long and flat, like fettuccine, but you can really use any pasta shape you like.
    • Haas avocado - I love how creamy a Haas avocado makes this recipe! If you are using other avocados, that is totally fine. Haas avocados tend to be smaller than Florida avocados, so just taste and adjust the seasonings at the end if needed.
    • fresh basil - Plenty of fresh basil gives this vegan avocado pesto pasta so much FLAVOR! Definitely use fresh, not dried.
    • water - This helps the avocado break down in the blender. You may need to add more water, depending on lots of factors, like the size of your avocado and your blender.
    • garlic - Remember that we are using raw garlic, which has a stronger flavor that can overpower the avocado sauce. Feel free to add more garlic, but I suggest starting with the two cloves and adding one at a time, blending between additions, so you don't overdo it.
    • lemon juice - Adds brightness and acidity to the sauce.
    • nutritional yeast - Give the sauce a mild cheesiness. You can use less or omit, if you like.
    • salt and pepper - For seasoning to taste.
    • toppings - Have fun with the toppings! I like to top with diced tomato, sliced black olives, and magical fairy dust. Go with your favorite pasta toppings!

    How to make vegan avocado pasta

    Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.

    Meanwhile, put all of your avocado sauce ingredients into the blender, and puree until smooth. You can add water, a tablespoon at a time as needed, to get things moving. Adjust the salt and pepper, if necessary.

    Serve topped with your toppings of choice.

    spooning vegan avocado pesto out of a jar

    Helpful tip

    • While the pasta cooks, you have plenty of time to make the vegan avocado sauce and prep your toppings.

    Serving and storage directions

    Avocado pesto is great over pasta, as I'm sure you know, but there are lots of other fun ways to use it!

    Spoon it over a grain bowl, like my roasted broccoli and tofu bowl, for an easy meal. It's also a great dip for veggies.

    Want to up your hummus game? Add a few spoonfuls of pesto to the mix next time for a flavor boost!

    If you do have leftover avocado pesto, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for around five days.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why isn't this avocado pasta fat free?

    Let's talk quickly about oil free vs. fat free.

    This recipe is free from added oils, but that doesn't mean it's free of fat. Avocados are a fatty fruit, and that's exactly what makes this pesto creamy!

    The fat in avocados is heart healthy. Plus, you get fiber and other nutrients, because you're eating the whole fruit.

    Is pasta vegan?

    Most shelf-stable pasta is vegan, made with just semolina flour and water! Fresh pasta is sometimes made with eggs, so look out for that in ingredients. You can also find lots of gluten-free vegan pastas, just check the ingredients list for egg and dairy.

    Can you eat avocado pasta the next day?

    You sure can! It keeps for up to 5 days in the fridge.

    Can you reheat avocado pasta?

    This pasta reheats like a dream! Just warm it in the microwave.

    More avocado goodness!

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    bowl of fettuccine with avocado pesto and tomatoes

    Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta

    Looking for an easy meal that's rich and creamy without added oil? This delicious, basil-y vegan avocado pasta is IT!
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    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sauces and Dressings
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: vegan avocado pasta, vegan avocado pesto pasta
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 292kcal

    Ingredients

    • 6 to 8 ounces pasta of choice

    For the avocado sauce

    • 1 Haas avocado
    • 1 cup fresh basil leaves - loosely packed
    • ½ cup water - plus more, if needed, to reach your desired consistency
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2 tablespoons cashews - raw or roasted is fine, or you can use pine nuts
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast - optional
    • salt and black pepper - to taste

    Toppings

    • diced tomato, black olive, vegan Parmesan cheese, etc. - Choose your favorite pasta toppings!
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
    • Meanwhile, put all of your avocado sauce ingredients into the blender, and puree until smooth. You can add water 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed, to get things moving. Adjust the salt and pepper, if necessary.
    • Serve topped with your toppings of choice.

    Equipment

    • Blender

    Video

    Notes

    To make this recipe nut free, use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead of cashews.
    The final amount of water you'll need depends on the consistency you want and the size of your avocado. A large avocado might need more water to reach that creamy, pesto consistency you're looking for. You may need more water if you use the optional nutritional yeast, as well, since that can thicken up sauces.
    The nutritional yeast is optional and gives this pesto the cheesiness that you'd normally get from Parmesan.
    Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for around 5 days.
    Nutritional data is for 6 ounces of pasta and doesn't include salt, pepper, and toppings, since those are variable.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    292
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    12
    g
    18
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    10
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.03
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    36
    mg
    12
    %
    Sodium
     
    15
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    495
    mg
    14
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    39
    g
    13
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    24
    %
    Sugar
     
    2
    g
    2
    %
    Protein
     
    10
    g
    20
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    417
    IU
    8
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    13
    mg
    16
    %
    Calcium
     
    38
    mg
    4
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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