Did you know that Compton used to be a giant avocado grove? I didn’t. My friend lives there, and she has one of the remaining avocado trees. It is the most epic avocado tree I have ever seen. Huge, with giant incredibly delicious avocados to match. Every year around avocado season, I try to make sure I visit her and go home with some of the bounty. As much as I love guac and avocado toast, there are other things you can do with this amazing fruit – like Avocado Pasta! The sauce can easily be made while the pasta is boiling, so it’s quick and easy to whip up, but you can serve it like a fancy meal you slaved over.

Guessipe

• 1/2 lb pasta
• 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 TBSP lemon juice
• 2 TBSP olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Boil your pasta of choice. I used fettuccine, but you can use whatever pasta you prefer. I like my pasta al dente, so do several minutes less cooking time than the instructions recommend. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.

Put the avocado, Parmesan, basil, garlic, and lemon juice, into a food processor and blend until smooth.

Slowly add the olive oil then pasta water while the food processor continues to run. Stop adding pasta water when it reaches your desired level of thickness. Salt and pepper to taste.

Toss the pasta in the avocado sauce. Add more salt and pepper if desired. Serve with a sprinkle of additional Parmesan.