Ingredients
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3.5 ounces Penne PastaGluten free Penne Pasta
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5 ounces Mushrooms
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½ Red Onion
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Avocado Sauce:
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3 ounces Fresh Spinach7 ounces frozen spinach
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1 Avocado
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½ Lime
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3 minced cloves Garlic
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1,5 oz Parsley
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2 tbsp Almond Milk
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4 tbsp Water
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1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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½ tsp Salt
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Pinch of Black Pepper
Every family has an archive of trusted recipes that they make every month. You always go back to them every chance you get and know that your kids will eat it every time. This dish is one of those for our family. It’s a vegan penne recipe that has made it to our family archive. This vegan mushroom pasta with avocado sauce is hearty and healthy. There’s something about the creamy avocado pasta sauce that balances out such rich flavors in the mushroom penne. If your interested in how to add this dish to your family list of trusted recipes… then keep on reading for the goods.
Why Penne?
There are a few reasons why penne pasta is perfect for this dish, but the main one is how it keeps its shape. When you are working with gluten-free pasta, it’s important to find a type that keeps its shape and texture. Penne is one of those pasta styles.
Avocado Power
Everyone wants to know what the big deal with avocados is, and I’m here to tell you. They are full of healthy fats that are essential for your body. For a start, avocados are full of vitamin K and fiber. They also have more potassium than a single banana does. They have heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and have tons of antioxidants. If you are eating a plant-based diet, avocado also helps absorb plant-based foods, which is essential when you are eating clean. Making sure you are eating foods that help you fully absorb all the nutrients you are consuming is important. Another great thing about avocados is that there are 250 calories in one avocado and 23 grams of fat. These are the good fats. They help lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol.
How To Choose Your Mushrooms
When you are cooking with mushrooms, it can be overwhelming to pick which one will be the best flavor for your dish. I’ve broken down a few of the most popular.
- Shiitake: This mushroom is native to East Asia and has a bold and savory flavor. Ian Garrone points out that you should cook these for at least 10 minutes if the chewy texture puts you off.
- Cremini: These mushrooms are mild in flavor and can go in anything. They are a bit of a “catch-all” ingredient that would fit in most dishes. If you are feeling stuck, this might be a good place to start.
- Portobello: These mushrooms are popular in pasta dishes and have a meaty flavor. If you are on a plant-based diet and are looking for a hearty mushroom… choose this one. It might be up your alley.
Recipe notes
I use Corn & Rice gluten-free Penne Pasta, which is remarkably similar to regular wheat pasta. I love its rich flavor and texture, but you can try other types (ex: brown rice pasta, chickpea pasta, quinoa pasta).
All gluten-free pastas can easily be overcooked, so make sure you keep an eye on it to avoid that problem. For the best results, I recommend to cook it al dente.
Always remove spinach stems to make your final topping soft and tender. For this recipe, I chose fresh spinach, but frozen is also suitable.
Red onion makes the taste of the pasta sweeter, however, changes the color of the sauce to a browner one.
Ingredients
| 3.5 ounces Penne Pasta | |
| 5 ounces Mushrooms | |
| ½ Red Onion | |
Avocado Sauce: |
|
| 3 ounces Fresh Spinach | |
| 1 Avocado | |
| ½ Lime | |
| 3 minced cloves Garlic | |
| 1,5 oz Parsley | |
| 2 tbsp Almond Milk | |
| 4 tbsp Water | |
| 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil | |
| ½ tsp Salt | |
| Pinch of Black Pepper |
Let’s Get Cooking
How to make. Steps
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1
Done
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Cook pastaIn a large pot, cook pasta and drain once finished |
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2
Done
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Cook sauceHeat olive oil in deep frying pan and add onion to soften (not browned). |
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3
Done
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BlendPut it in a food processor and add the avocado, parsley, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, almond milk, sea salt and black pepper (blend until completely smooth). |
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4
Done
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Wash and cut mushroomsWash and cut mushrooms and put to the frying pan for 10-15 minutes (cook uncovered). Add the spinach and cook 2 minutes more. |
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5
Done
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ServeAdd the avocado sauce and pasta to the dish with onion and mushroom (mix and heat until you have desired temperature) |
Recipe Notes:
There are a few things to note with this recipe. Avocados tend to brown fast after exposed to air, so serving this dish within a few hours of making it is the best option. Also, depending on which onion you choose will change the color of the sauce. The red onion provides a sweeter flavor but makes the sauce browner instead of as green as a shallot would. Lastly, it’s important not to rinse the pasta once it’s boiled and cooked! Other than that, bon appétit!
Tried This Dish and Love It?
If you have tried this dish and love it, let me know in the comments! I would love to see how everyone enjoyed this fabulous dish!
2 Comments Hide Comments
This looks super awesome Ann and a huge pasta fan. I am pinning this for later and sharing the recipe with my son and his girlfriend. They are vegan, so I’m sure they will want to try it and so do I! I love your blog btw!
Love the photographs, so artfully done! I will definitely be making this for dinner tonight! Thank you for the recipe! 🙂