Smashed Avocado Pasta - Cinnamon Nest

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 ounces spaghetti or linguine

02 - 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)

→ Avocado Mixture

03 - 2 ripe avocados

04 - 1 lime, juiced and zested

05 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

06 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced

07 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes

08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

09 - Fresh basil or cilantro leaves (optional)

10 - Grated Parmesan or vegan alternative (optional)

11 - Additional lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, reserving 1/4 cup of cooking water before draining.

02 - Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop the flesh into a bowl and mash until mostly smooth. Stir in lime juice and zest, olive oil, minced garlic, chili flakes, salt, and pepper until combined.

03 - Add the drained warm pasta to the avocado mixture. Toss to coat evenly, gradually adding reserved pasta water until a creamy sauce forms.

04 - Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs, extra chili flakes, Parmesan or vegan alternative, and lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

Ready in 20 minutes with zero intimidation factor, even on nights when you're exhausted.
The avocado becomes a silky sauce that clings to every strand of pasta without needing heavy cream.
Fresh lime and a whisper of chili give it enough personality that you'll crave it again.

02 -

Avocado oxidizes quickly once cut, so prepare it no more than a few minutes before you toss the pasta together.
The pasta water is your secret weapon; its starch is what transforms mashed avocado into an actual sauce that coats the noodles instead of clumping.
Buy avocados that yield slightly to pressure but aren't mushy; they should be ripe on the day you cook, not three days later.

03 -