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5.0 from 63 votes

Monday: Avocado “Pesto” Pasta

A versatile and tasty recipe that’s quick to prepare and easy to enjoy.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 178 kcal
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 4-8 ounces of brown rice or soba noodles, or any pasta/noodles of choice*
Avocado “Pesto” Sauce***
  • 3/4 cup tightly packed arugula**
  • 1/4 cup water, plus more as needed to thin the sauce
  • 1-1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 1/2 of large ripe avocado
  • 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 2-3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (optional but recommended; omit if oil-free)
  • 1/2 to 1 cup chickpeas (depends on your appetite)
  • 1 small handful of tomatoes: cherry tomatoes, halved (or, regular tomatoes, chopped)
  • 1 small handful of arugula or thinly sliced kale (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook your pasta/noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooked. Divide the cooked noodles into half: use half for Monday’s lunch and store the remainder in the fridge for Tuesday’s lunch.
  2. Make the Avocado Pesto Sauce. Add the arugula, water, lemon juice, and garlic to a food processor. Process until broken down and the sauce starts to come together. Add the avocado, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Blend until you have a relatively smooth and creamy sauce. Season to taste, adding more salt/pepper or lemon juice, as needed.
  3. Assemble. Toss the cooked pasta with the Avocado Pesto Sauce. Add in the chickpeas, arugula, and tomatoes, and any other ingredients to jazz it up. Toss to combine.

Notes

  • * You will use half of the noodles in Monday’s lunch and the remainder in Tuesday’s lunch.
  • **If you use kale instead of arugula, remove the thick stems and ribs.
  • ***The Avocado Pesto Sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance without too much browning (though, of course, it’ll taste freshest if made the morning of).

Nutrition Information

Calories 178kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 28g (9%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Sodium 362mg (15%) Potassium 286mg (8%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 220IU (4%) Vitamin C 10mg (11%) Calcium 30mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 178

% Daily Value*

Calories 178kcal 9%
Carbohydrates 28g 9%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Sodium 362mg 15%
Potassium 286mg 6%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 220IU 4%
Vitamin C 10mg 11%
Calcium 30mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.