For me, pasta is the ultimate comfort food, I could eat it everyday. I’m sure many of you can relate to my love for pasta but, let’s face it, the recommended serving size just never seems to be enough. The only downside of pasta is the heavy carbs that can leave you feeling heavy and bloated, not to mention that it can also wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. The solution? Try this Hearty Avocado Pasta Salad recipe that’s not only healthier, but tastes amazing!
When enjoying a plate of pasta, I always make sure to include a healthy dose of good fats and quality protein to slow down the carbohydrate absorption. Whether it’s a tomato meatball sauce or pesto chicken, I still have a hard time balancing the heavy carbs. This is why I usually made pasta a special occasion meal.
Bean-Based Pasta Alternatives – A Game Changer!
The revolution of bean-based pastas completely changed my relationship with pasta and now I’m enjoying it at least a couple times a week. Fiber and protein packed bean pastas are the solution to heavy bloating, gluten intolerance, and portion satisfaction. You will feel completely satisfied after a bowl, and it’s so delicious you won’t even miss the white stuff.
There are many bean pasta brands on the market to choose from and one of my favourites is Explore Cuisine. Give this nutrient packed recipe a try!
Hearty Avocado Pasta Salad
- 1 box Explore Cuisine Chickpea Pasta
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup asparagus, chopped and lightly sautéed
- ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
- Half a red onion, finely chopped
Dressing:
- 1 avocado
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ cup fresh basil
- ¼ cup tahini or pumpkin seeds
- Juice of two limes
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Micro greens & fresh herbs (optional, to garnish)
What To Do:
- In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients except the pasta. Using a food processor, add all of the dressing ingredients and blend until creamy. You may need to add a bit more liquid (olive oil or water) depending on the ripeness of your avocado.
- Boil chickpea pasta until al dente. Drain and run under cold water to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
- Combine the salad ingredients with the pasta and mix together with the dressing.
- Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavours to come together.
- Garnish with micro greens and fresh herbs and serve!
What’s your favourite way to enjoy bean-based pasta?
Our Power Up Mission is simply to educate our customers on the importance of using quality food as fuel. For all your Power Up news make sure you check out Vince’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Make sure you follow @VincesMarket and #powerupwithvinces, sign up for our Power Up Newsletter and keep an eye out for nutrition tips and tricks from me, our in-house nutrition expert!
To our health & wellbeing,
Danielle
