I am so excited to be partnering with Hass Avocado to share with you my new found love of avocados and all the health benefits they offer. As always, even though this post was compensated, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
As a kid, I ran away from anything that had avocado in it. It was one of those ridiculous situations where I had never really tried an avocado but was convinced I didn’t like it. Thankfully, as an adult, I became a little wiser and fell in love with avocados. I eat them on toast, in salads and, of course, in guacamole. I have also started cooking with avocados more and it all started with this creamy baked avocado pasta.
Avocados not only taste delicious but they have so many health benefits. A fresh avocado is cholesterol and sodium free. Plus, they are full of good fat which is an important part of any healthy diet. We always keep at least one Hass avocado around the house so we can use it as a snack alone or toss it into a recipe we are making. A great way to use them is to make sauces creamy without the addition of milk or cream like I did in this pasta dish.
What You’ll Need:
16 oz ziti
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh basil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp avocado oil
1 large, ripe Hass Avocado
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Let’s Make It:
1) Preheat the oven to 325 degree. Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2) Cook the pasta according to the package directions, subtracting 3 minutes from the cooking time. Drain.
3) Add garlic and basil to the food processor. Pulse 2-3 times. Add lemon juice, avocado and salt. Turn on and add oil while running. If too thick, add about 1 Tbsp of water.
4) Combine pasta and avocado sauce and stir to coat pasta. Pour into casserole dish. Top with cheeses. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Ok, so tell me about your love of avocados. Or, better yet, watch this video and give me one fun fact you learn in the comments for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card from Hass Avocados. A winner will be randomly drawn from the comments a week from today (October 28th). You can also connect with Hass Avocado on Facebook and Twitter for more fun facts and recipes!
I really love avocados… there are SO many ways you can eat them.. and I love them all. Pinned!
Well, not exactly a fun fact but a fun part of the video: I like the part of the video when the boy and girl were told what a vegetarian was and that vegetarians do not eat meat; the look on the children’s faces where hilarious. The girl says, “I don’t get it.” 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Fun fact: avocado is a fruit because it has seeds.
Fact – Avocados are sodium and cholesterol free which I didn’t know. Thanks for the chance!
I learned that avocado is a fruit.
Avocado is actually a fruit.
I learned that kids today have a better knowledge of being healthy than when I was growing up. Also learned that avocados are a fruit, thought it was a veggie 🙂
I’m AVOCADO OBSEESED! I Love Incorporating Avocados Into A Variety Of Recipes, The Possibilities Are Endless! Fun Fact From The Video Is That Avocado Is A Fruit.
I love avocados on my sandwiches but love them best made into guacamole. I learned that avocados are not a vegetable, they are a fruit because they have a seed.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
I love avocados smashed on toast.
I love avocados in salads, tacos, sandwiches and on tostadas.
Yesterday I had some really delicious guacamole at a friend’s birthday party!
I didn’t know avocados were cholesterol free.
I learned that avocados are sodium and cholesterol free! I love different recipes using avocados especially chocolate avocado pudding.
I didnt realize that Avocado’s are fruit because of the seeds! That is so interesting!