Green Goddess Pasta Salad (Printable)

Refreshing pasta tossed with fresh herbs, cucumbers, and creamy avocado-yogurt green goddess dressing. Easy, vegetarian, and perfect for gatherings.

# What you'll need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Vegetables and 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 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1 to 2 tablespoons water as needed
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add short pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, combine avocado, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding water one tablespoon at a time until achieving a pourable consistency.
03 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add diced cucumber, chopped spinach, parsley, chives, and basil. Toss ingredients gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour green goddess dressing over the pasta mixture. Using a large spoon or spatula, toss gently and thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning as needed. Add additional salt or lemon juice according to preference.
06 - Serve immediately for optimal texture, or refrigerate up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with additional fresh herbs before serving if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado dressing is so creamy you wont believe theres no mayo involved.
  • It comes together in half an hour but tastes like you fussed all afternoon.
  • Leftovers actually get better as the flavors soak into the pasta overnight.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water after draining or the heat will wilt the spinach and herbs too much.
  • Use a ripe avocado or the dressing will be lumpy and lack that creamy richness.
  • Add the dressing to the pasta while the pasta is still slightly cool, not warm, so the avocado doesnt turn bitter.
03 -
  • Blend the dressing until its completely smooth or youll get avocado chunks that dont coat the pasta evenly.
  • Taste the dressing before mixing it in, because once its on the pasta its harder to fix.
  • If the salad thickens in the fridge, stir in a tablespoon of water or lemon juice to loosen it up before serving.
Return