Zesty Jamie Oliver Avocado Pasta Recipe: Silky Weeknight Fix

Jamie Oliver’s avocado pasta unleashes a verdant symphony of flavors that electrifies your dining experience.

Creamy emerald ribbons cascade over perfectly cooked noodles, transforming an everyday meal into a gourmet sensation.

Mediterranean essence flows through each sumptuous forkful, blending nutrition with indulgence.

Velvety green sauce cradles tender pasta strands, creating a mesmerizing culinary canvas.

Wholesome ingredients conspire to craft a dish that’s both luxurious and effortlessly prepared.

Vibrant and zesty, this recipe promises a delightful escape from mundane dinner routines.

Every twirl of your fork reveals a burst of fresh, enticing flavors that will make your taste buds dance with joy.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 2

What You Need for Jamie Oliver Avocado Pasta

• Pasta: Choose a type that holds sauce well, like linguine or penne, ensuring perfect texture and maximum sauce absorption.
• Pasta Water: Essential liquid gold that adds creaminess and helps sauce cling to pasta beautifully.

• Avocado: Select ripe, deep green avocados with slight give when gently pressed, guaranteeing silky smooth texture.
• Basil Leaves: Pick bright green, fragrant fresh leaves without any wilting or dark spots.
• Garlic: Choose firm, plump cloves with tight, unbroken skin for maximum aromatic punch.
• Lemon: Look for bright yellow, heavy fruits indicating juiciness and vibrant zest potential.

• Salt: Use fine sea salt for even distribution and clean flavor enhancement.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground offers more robust, complex taste compared to pre-ground versions.
• Lemon Juice, Lemon Zest: Bright citrus elements that elevate sauce's freshness and provide zingy complexity.

Tools to Make Jamie Oliver Avocado Pasta Smoothly

• Large Pot: Perfect for boiling pasta with plenty of space.
• Colander: Essential for draining pasta while catching those precious cooking water drops.
• Blender: Powerful tool to transform avocado and herbs into silky smooth sauce.
• Measuring Spoons: Help precisely measure salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
• Cutting Board: Clean surface for zesting lemon and prepping ingredients.
• Sharp Knife: Needed for slicing avocado and chopping fresh basil.
• Garlic Press (optional): Crushes garlic cloves for intense flavor.
• Wooden Spoon or Tongs: Great for mixing pasta with creamy sauce.
• Grater: Useful for creating fine lemon zest.

Cooking Instructions for Avocado Pasta

• Cooking the Pasta

Bring water to a rolling boil and drop in your pasta. Let it dance in the bubbling water until it reaches that perfect, tender-yet-firm texture. Aim for about 8-10 minutes of cooking magic.

• Creating the Creamy Avocado Elixir

Grab a blender and toss in a ripe avocado, fresh basil leaves, a squeeze of lemon, zesty lemon rind, garlic cloves, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Blend until the mixture transforms into a silky, vibrant green sauce that looks like liquid sunshine.

• Perfecting the Sauce Texture

Scoop out some pasta water before draining – this starchy liquid is your secret weapon. Slowly add splashes to the blended sauce, pulsing until it reaches a dreamy, smooth consistency that will make your pasta sing. Taste and tweak the seasonings, adding more lemon, salt, or pepper until it hits that flavor sweet spot.

• Bringing It All Together

Pour the luscious green sauce over your steaming pasta. Gently toss until every single strand is luxuriously coated. Serve immediately, letting the fresh, zesty flavors transport you to a culinary paradise.

Flavor Tweaks for Jamie Oliver Avocado Pasta

This avocado pasta sauce welcomes creative twists that make each bite uniquely yours.

Stir in grilled chicken, crispy tofu, or sautéed shrimp to transform the dish into a complete meal packed with extra protein.

Sprinkle toasted pine nuts, crispy breadcrumbs, or crushed red pepper flakes on top for an exciting crunch that contrasts the smooth sauce.

Experiment with different herbs like cilantro, mint, or dill instead of basil to create surprising flavor profiles that’ll keep your taste buds dancing.

If sauce feels too thick, warm it slightly with a splash of pasta water or gently heat in a pan to restore its silky smooth consistency.

Plating and Serving Avocado Pasta

• Garnish with Green Goodness: Sprinkle fresh chopped basil, chives, or parsley on top for a burst of color and herbal freshness.
• Add Protein Power: Toss in grilled chicken, seared shrimp, or crispy tofu cubes to make the pasta more filling and nutritious.
• Crunch Factor Boost: Scatter toasted pine nuts, sliced almonds, or breadcrumbs over the pasta for a delightful textural contrast.
• Zesty Drizzle Finish: Squeeze extra lemon juice or add a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil just before serving to enhance the bright, fresh flavors.

Save and Store Jamie Oliver Avocado Pasta

• Preserve Fresh Flavors: Store leftover avocado pasta sauce in an airtight container, pressing plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent browning. Refrigerate for up to 2 days maximum.
• Quick Reheat Strategy: Gently warm pasta by adding a splash of pasta water or olive oil to restore creamy texture when reheating. Avoid microwaving to prevent sauce separation.
• Smart Ingredient Prep: Keep avocados at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerate to slow down ripening process. Select firm, unblemished avocados for the best sauce quality.
• Portion Control Hack: Prepare sauce separately from pasta to extend meal flexibility. Store sauce and pasta components separately to maintain optimal texture and prevent sogginess.

Vibrant Jamie Oliver Avocado Pasta Recipe

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Jamie Oliver’s creamy avocado pasta brings rich, silky textures to classic Italian cuisine. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, offering quick weeknight dinner perfection for home cooks seeking simple yet delicious meal solutions.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 7 oz (200 g) pasta
• 1 small avocado (or ½ large avocado)
• 1 cup (25 g) basil leaves, loosely packed
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ lemon, juice and zest
• ½ cup (120 ml) pasta cooking water

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Instructions

1. Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta to desired tenderness, maintaining uniform texture and reserving one cup of starchy water before draining.
2. Sauce Creation: Combine ripe avocado, fresh basil, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a high-powered blender, processing until achieving a velvety smooth consistency with reserved pasta water.
3. Sauce Refinement: Adjust sauce texture and flavor by incrementally adding pasta water and fine-tuning seasoning with additional lemon juice, salt, or pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
4. Final Assembly: Pour the vibrant green avocado sauce over hot pasta, using tongs to ensure comprehensive and even coating of each pasta strand.
5. Serving: Present the dish immediately while pasta remains warm, allowing the creamy sauce to highlight its fresh, zesty characteristics and luxurious mouthfeel.

Notes

• Pasta Water Magic: Reserve cooking liquid to transform sauce texture, helping create a silky, perfectly coated pasta dish.
• Blending Brilliance: Use high-powered blender for ultra-smooth sauce, preventing lumpy or chunky avocado inconsistencies.
• Flavor Fine-Tuning: Taste and adjust seasonings gradually, adding lemon, salt, or pepper incrementally for balanced, personalized taste.
• Serve Swiftly: Enjoy immediately while pasta is hot to maximize fresh flavors and preserve the sauce’s vibrant green color and creamy consistency.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: UK

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg