I created many versions of pasta and avocado pesto but I think this one is my favourite. It’s an adaptation from my lemony orzo recipe only creamier. I used fusilli pasta as I love the way this delicious pesto coats these groovy pasta shapes. Farfalle work really well too.
This pasta is delicious and so summery. And hey, it’s health-ish!
For the pesto
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 Tbs lemon juice
- ¼ cup packed parsley leaves
- ¼ cup packed mint leaves
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ cup halloumi cheese, grated
- 1/3 cup “Leivadiotis” oven roasted cashews (green label)
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the pasta
- 500 grams “Mitsides” fusilli
- 1 medium head broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup black Kalamata olives
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- ¼ tsp chilli flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
First make the pesto by mixing all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 6 minutes. Remove florets with a slotted spoon (keep the water in the pot) and put in a large bowl filled with iced water. This will prevent the broccoli from losing its bright green colour. Drain and chop to bite size pieces.
Add the pasta in the same pot you cooked the broccoli. Cook according to the directions on the packet. Drain, but keep about a cup of the cooking water.
Put pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add the pesto and about ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water. Mix well with a spatula. Add the broccoli, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, olive oil, chilli flakes and mix again until combined. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust.
Serve warm, at room temperature or cold. It’s delicious.
Note: The next day, any left over pasta will lose some of it’s vibrant, green colour although the taste is still there. I would suggest making this pasta a few hours before serving.
cuisinovia 
Kalimera Galatia! Poli orea i sintagi sou! Autes tis meres vlepo se epanalipsi tin ekpompi “Xrises Sintages” kai oi sintages sou mou aresoun para polli! Ta “Koulouria me glikaniso” posi ora ta psonis kai se posous va8mous? Kali sinexia! Konstantina! xxx☺☺😅
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Τα ψήνω στους 240 για 5 λεπτά, μετά χαμηλώνω τον φούρνο στους 210 για αλλά 25 λεπτα
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Se euxaristo polli Galatia! Kali sinexia kai kalo mina na exis! Konstantina! xxx☺☺☺
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Kalispera Galatia! 8elo na ftia3o tis “Mpares me sokolata kai karamela” alla den 3ero tis diastasis tou tapsiou pou xrisimopiis! Posa ekatista einai to tapsi pou xrisimopiis? Einai mia sintagi pou epsaxna na vro edo kai kairo kai epitelous tin vrika! 8a mporouses na grafis tis sintages sou kai sta Ellinika giato mou einai pio eukolo otan ftiaxno sintages sou na tis diavazo? Kali sinexia! Konstantina! xxx☺☺☺🍫🍫🍫
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Το ταψί μου είναι περίπου 22 χ 22 εκ. Δουλεύω το ελληνικό Κωνσταντίνα μου! Σύντομα….
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Kalimera Galatia! Se euxaristo polli! Kalo mina na exis! Kali sinexia! Konstantina! xxx☺☺☺
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Kalimera Galatia! Exis sintagi gia milopita pou i zimi tis na einai san mpiskoto! H zimi einai apo pano alla kai stin vasi kai endiamesa ta mila! Nomizo i zimi ginete i exi ximo portokaliou! Tin exo fai kapou alla den gnorizan tin sintagi giati tin eixe ftia3i kapios allos! An exis mia tetia sintagi 8a mporouses mas tin di3i! Eixes anaferi stin ekonpi “Xrises Sintages” pos 8a mas di3is pos na ftia3oume “Ekxilisma Vanilias”! Exis di3i pos ginete giati einai kati pou 8elo na fia3o? An den exis di3i se parakalo polli di3e mas pos na to ftia3oume stin ekpompi! Kali sinexia! Konstantina! xxx☺☺☺🍎🍎🍎
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