Shrimp and Avocado-Cream Pasta

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This recipe has a tasty secret: the creamy sauce is made with nutritious avocado! Mix it together with multigrain pasta for a healthy dinner option.

Shrimp and Avocado-Cream Pasta
Prep Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
2
Yield:
2 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces fresh or frozen peeled and deveined small shrimp

  • 2 ounces multigrain or whole wheat farfalle pasta (3/4 cup)

  • 1 ¼ cups fresh spinach leaves

  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves

  • ½ medium avocado, seeded, peeled, and chopped

  • ¼ cup fat-free half-and-half

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 1 small red sweet pepper, seeded and cut into matchstick-size pieces

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Rinse shrimp; pat dry with paper towels. Set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water; set aside.

  2. Meanwhile, in a food processor combine 1/4 cup of the spinach, the basil, avocado, half-and-half, salt, and black pepper. Cover and process until smooth. Set aside.

  3. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add sweet pepper; cook 3 minutes. Add shrimp; cook 2 to 3 minutes more or until the shrimp are opaque. Stir in the pureed spinach mixture and the reserved pasta water; heat through. Remove from the heat. Add the remaining 1 cup spinach, the tomatoes, and the cooked pasta; toss to combine. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

294 Calories
8g Fat
32g Carbs
25g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Serving Size 1 serving
Calories 294
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 25g 49%
Total Fat 8g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 122mg 41%
Vitamin A 4572IU 91%
Vitamin C 74mg 82%
Folate 65mcg 16%
Sodium 500mg 22%
Calcium 178mg 14%
Iron 4mg 21%
Magnesium 85mg 20%
Potassium 741mg 16%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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