Recipe #41: Avocado and Spinach Pasta

I am loving how ripe the avocados and herbs are this time of year. I've made guacamole several times in the past but I have never thought to add pasta to the dip.With every fruit and vegetable on sale I have not been able to help myself at the grocery store. On top of the sales I really have just been very eager to make this recipe: http://usmasala.blogspot.com/2012/07/pasta-in-avocado-sauce-with-chickpeas.html.

If you are eager to eat a healthy dish that is jam packed with fruits, vegetables, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids than this is the recipe for you! Not to mention this actually tastes really good and it is fun because the avocado spread makes everything green! I don't think I have ever made a recipe where every single ingredient in my dinner bowl is green until tonight and I can say with certainty I'll make this again.

Ingredients:

* 1 lb of Spaghetti Pasta
* 2 cups of Spinach, divided
* 2 Avocados
* 0.66 oz of Cilantro
* 3 Garlic Cloves
* 1 Green Chile Pepper
* 2 Tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* 1 Tbsp of Lime Juice
* 1/4 tsp of Ground Pepper
* 4 Tbsp of Parmesan Cheese
* 1/2 can of Chick Peas
* 2 Tbsp of Butter


Cooking Directions:

First, bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat.

Once boiling add the pasta and cook until tender. After draining the pasta add the butter and 1 cup of spinach. (The heat from the pasta will cause the spinach leaves to wilt.)

Cut and pit the avocados.

Then with a spoon remove the inside of the avocados and dice on the cutting board.

Place the avocados in a medium size serving bowl.

On a cutting board mince both the garlic and the chili pepper. Add both to the bowl with the avocados.

Mince both the cilantro and 1 cup of the raw spinach and add to the bowl.

Add the lime juice, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and pepper to the bowl as well.

Mix all of the ingredients until smooth like guacamole.

Add the pasta and the chick peas to the bowl and mix until the pasta and the chick peas are nicely coated.

Serve immediately.