Avocado Pasta Salad

Avocado Pasta Salad: Creamy, Refreshing, and Flavor-Packed

Introduction:

This creamy, refreshing pasta salad combines ripe avocados, fresh vegetables, and a zesty dressing for a light yet satisfying meal. Perfect for warm days, quick lunches, or potlucks, it’s packed with flavor and nutrition. The velvety avocado dressing makes this salad smooth and luscious, while the colorful mix of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, corn, and fresh herbs keeps it vibrant and crisp. Add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein, or enjoy it as a healthy, veggie-packed side dish.

Ingredients:

For the Salad:

• 8 oz (225 g) pasta (penne, rotini, or bow-tie)
• 2 ripe avocados, diced (approx. 300 g / 10.5 oz)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (150 g / 5.3 oz)
• ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced (50 g / 1.8 oz)
• 1 cup cucumber, diced (120 g / 4 oz)
• ½ cup sweet corn, cooked or canned, drained (75 g / 2.6 oz)
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional, 10 g / 0.35 oz)

For the Dressing:

• 1 ripe avocado (150 g / 5.3 oz)
• ¼ cup olive oil (60 ml / 2 fl oz)
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice or lemon juice (30 ml / 1 fl oz)
• 1 clove garlic, minced (3 g / 0.1 oz)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard (5 g / 0.18 oz)
• ¼ tsp cumin (optional, 1 g / 0.03 oz)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp water (30 ml / 1 fl oz), to thin the dressing if needed

Directions: