Velvet Greens Pasta with Avocado, Spinach, Basil and Lemon Zest
This is pasta, but not as you know it. Creamy without cream, zesty without being heavy, and bursting with colour, it’s the kind of dish that feels like a treat but secretly packs in everything your body craves. Ripe avocado blends with spinach, basil, and lemon to make a silky sauce that clings to every bite of pasta. Finished with juicy cherry tomatoes and a scatter of pine nuts, it’s a glow-up version of comfort food — light, fresh, and ridiculously satisfying.
Cook Time: 20-30 Mins
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
250g wholegrain, lentil, or chickpea pasta (your choice)
1 ripe avocado
2 big handfuls fresh spinach
1 handful fresh basil leaves
1 garlic clove, crushed
Juice of 1 lemon + zest of ½ lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp nutritional yeast or parmesan (optional)
Sea salt & black pepper, to taste
Cherry tomatoes, halved (for topping)
Toasted pine nuts (for crunch)
Instructions:
Cook the pasta: Boil pasta according to packet instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
Make the sauce: In a blender, blitz avocado, spinach, basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, nutritional yeast (or parmesan), salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen if needed.
Combine: Toss hot pasta with the sauce, coating every piece. Adjust seasoning and add a touch more lemon juice if you like it zesty.
Finish with flair: Plate up, scatter over cherry tomatoes, sprinkle with lemon zest and toasted pine nuts, and serve warm.
Why it’s good for you
This dish is as nourishing as it is indulgent. Avocado provides healthy fats for brain and skin health. Spinach and basil are rich in iron, folate, and antioxidants. Lemon juice and zest brighten flavour while giving a vitamin C lift. Wholegrain or chickpea pasta keeps you full with fibre and plant protein. And the cherry tomatoes and pine nuts add pops of colour, crunch, and extra phytonutrients.
✨ Creamy, zesty, green, and deeply satisfying — this is pasta that fuels you, not just fills you.
This is more than dinner — it’s a full-body reset in one colourful, comforting dish.
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Disclaimer
Please be aware that individual allergies and dietary needs vary. It is your responsibility to check ingredient lists carefully and consult with a healthcare professional or allergist if you have any concerns about allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions before trying any recipes or dietary suggestions.
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