Green Goddess Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Tender pasta with crisp vegetables in a creamy avocado-yogurt herb dressing

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, rotini, or penne)
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
05 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
07 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

→ Green Goddess Dressing

08 - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
09 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
10 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1–2 tbsp water (to thin, as needed)
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
02 - Combine avocado, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth, adding water 1 tablespoon at a time to reach a creamy, pourable consistency.
03 - Place cooled pasta, diced cucumber, spinach, parsley, chives, and basil in a large mixing bowl. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - Pour the green goddess dressing over the pasta mixture. Fold carefully to coat all ingredients without crushing the pasta.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice as needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to develop. Garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing comes together in minutes but tastes like you fussed over it
  • It actually gets better after sitting in the fridge for a bit
  • People who swear they hate salad will go back for seconds
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • The dressing thickens in the fridge so thin it with a splash more water before serving
  • This salad is best served the same day because the herbs lose their punch after too long
03 -
  • Use a high speed blender if you want the dressing absolutely silky smooth
  • Double the dressing recipe because you will want to put it on everything
Go Back