🥑 Avocado Pasta Salad
📝 Description:
A vibrant, creamy, and refreshing pasta salad loaded with wholesome ingredients like ripe avocados, cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, olives, and feta cheese. Tossed in a zesty lemon-garlic dressing, it’s the perfect balance of richness and brightness—ideal for summer lunches, picnics, or light dinners.
🍽️ Ingredients:
For the Salad:
- 300 g cooked pasta (penne or rotini), cooled
- 2 ripe avocados, diced
- 150 g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 75 g cucumber, diced
- 40 g red onion, finely chopped
- 40 g black olives, sliced
- 40 g feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- 30 g fresh parsley, chopped
For the Dressing:
- 60 ml olive oil
- 30 ml lemon juice (about 2 tbsp)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
🥣 Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and let it cool completely.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, avocados, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and parsley.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
- Top with crumbled feta if using. Serve immediately or chill for 15–30 minutes for enhanced flavor.
🧠 Notes:
- Use firm but ripe avocados to avoid mushiness.
- Add a splash of lemon juice directly to the avocado if prepping early to prevent browning.
- This recipe is flexible—feel free to toss in grilled chicken or chickpeas for extra protein.
💡 Tips:
- Let the pasta cool completely before mixing to avoid wilting the veggies.
- Chill the salad for a bit before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- You can swap parsley with fresh basil or cilantro for a twist.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
👨👩👧 Servings:
4 servings as a main dish
6 servings as a side dish
⚖️ Nutritional Information (Per Serving – Without Feta):
Estimated values
- Calories: ~380 kcal
- Protein: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fat: 24 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
With feta: +70 kcal and +3 g protein approx.
🌿 Benefits:
- Avocados provide heart-healthy fats and potassium.
- Tomatoes and parsley are rich in antioxidants.
- Olive oil and garlic support heart and immune health.
- Feta (optional) adds calcium and a punch of flavor.
❓Q&A:
Q: Can I make this salad ahead of time?
A: Yes, but for best results, add avocado and dressing just before serving to keep it fresh.
Q: Can I store leftovers?
A: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The avocado may brown slightly but will still be safe to eat.
Q: What protein can I add to make it a complete meal?
A: Grilled chicken, canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, or chickpeas work well.
Q: Can I use a different pasta?
A: Yes! Any short pasta like fusilli, farfalle, or macaroni works great.