Avocado Lime Pasta Salad (Print)

Vibrant pasta dish tossed with avocado, lime, and fresh veggies. Ideal for picnics and quick, light meals.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 ounces short dried pasta, such as fusilli, rotini, or penne

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, about 1 large lime
09 - 1 teaspoon lime zest
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Add-ins

13 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
14 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

# Directions:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente, following package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until emulsified.
03 - Add cooled pasta, diced avocados, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red onion, and cilantro to the bowl with dressing.
04 - Gently mix all ingredients together until evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Sprinkle salad with crumbled feta cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.
06 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to intensify flavors.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Perfect for picnics or potlucks with no mayo needed
  • Ready in less than half an hour including prep
  • Vegetarian friendly but easy to customize for any diet
  • Colorful presentation with fresh flavors and creamy textures
02 -
  • High in heart healthy fats thanks to avocado and olive oil
  • Gluten free option is simple with the right pasta
  • The salad holds up well for packing lunches if you coat avocado in extra lime juice first
03 -
  • Use extra lime juice on avocado to keep green and appetizing
  • Do not skip rinsing the pasta in cold water—it prevents clumping and keeps the salad refreshing
  • Toast pumpkin seeds yourself for richer flavor than store bought
  • Mix the dressing in the bowl first before adding other ingredients for easy clean up

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