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Green pasta sauce pasta in two bowls with cheese.
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Favorite Avocado Pesto

With a handful of nutritious, flavorful ingredients, this Avocado Pesto is such a delicious meal to share with the kids. It's fast, it stores well, and it's easy to customize for your family. Win! (This makes enough for 2-3 meals of pasta, so see the Notes for how to store.)
Course Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 16 (Makes about 1 cup)
Calories 337kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 cups lightly packed baby spinach
  • ½ cup fresh basil (lightly packed; or parsley)
  • ½ cup avocado (about 1 small avocado, pitted)
  • ½ cup roasted unsalted sunflower seeds (or almonds; optional)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • ¼-⅓ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1 pound pasta

Instructions

  • Add the spinach, basil (or parsley), Parmesan, avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, and sunflower seeds (if using) to a blender or food processor. Start with the lower amount of olive oil and add more as needed to blend the sauce.
  • Blend very well until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl or using the stick that came with the blender as needed to make a smooth and creamy sauce.
  • Season to taste with salt if needed.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
  • Toss pasta with as much sauce as you like. (I usually start with ¼-½ cup.) Serve warm with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • Store sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in a zip-top freezer bag, with as much air removed as possible, for up to 3 months. You can also portion sauce into an ice cube tray, freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag for long-term storage in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature to use. Or simply add a frozen sauce cube to a hot bowl of pasta and stir to thaw.
  • You can also use this sauce on pizza, Pizza Rolls, or with any grain.
  • Dairy-free: Omit the Parmesan and top with a little nutritional yeast, if desired.
  • Use the seeds or leave them out, according to your preference.

Nutrition

Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 271mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1554IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg