Best ever avocado and shrimp pasta salad, this is the perfect summer picnic food or barbeque side. Fresh flavors, lavish textures, what more could you ask from a seasonal pasta salad. How about some lovely Argentinian shrimp!
Song of the day: "Mille" by Fedez, Achille Lauro, Orietta Berti
Summer is for dishes like this Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad!
I feel blessed as I have plenty of childhood summer memories. Almost every weekend we were going to the lake and we would have these picnic feasts. My parents would make potato salad, marinated steaks, sausages, corn, and also lovely pasta salads. It was a wonderful time of gathering and enjoying life. Today we are sharing this Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad, and it is a tasty one at that.
Time to get into the kitchen with us and let Nicoletta and I show you how easy and quick this salad is to make!
Utensil and kitchen things you will need:
- large pot for cooking pasta
- strainer
- baking sheet
- salute pan
- food processor or hand held blender
- cutting board
- chopping knife
- salad spoons
Let's gather up the ingredients
We are huge advocates for great quality ingredients. We shop at our local farmers markets and organic grocery store. I guarantee you, the end result will be fabulous. For pasta, we usually look for a good brand. What you want to look for is that rough matt finish pasta, this means amazing texture and flavor that will stick to the pasta incredibly! Gather up the ingredients so we can get started:
- penne pasta
- ripe avocado
- shrimp
- evo oil
- lime
- parsley, cilantro
- mustard
Here is how you make the Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad
What I really love about pasta salad is how easy it is and doesn't take a lot of time. Nicoletta and I worked together, which made it that much more special and effortless. This is how we make it:
- Put a large pot of salted water on boil. Cook the pasta for the required time on the package, strain and lay the cooked pasta on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and mix.
- While the pasta is cooking, drizzle in some olive oil and a pat of butter into a sauté pan. Turn on to a medium heat, place the shrimp in, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for a short time, when they turn a lovely orange to red color, the shrimp are done. Place into a bowl and set aside.
- Cut avocado in half, take out the pit, and chop it up. Place pasta in a large bowl, zest and squeeze the lime in, then add the avocado and mix.
Time to get some creaminess into this Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad!
We used two avocados for this recipe. One sliced and diced, and furthermore the other pureed in a food processor. You can also use a hand held blender for this process. I used some of the lime juice in with the avocado and also a bit more olive oil and water, to get that creaminess.
Assembling time!
Let's finish putting together this Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad:
- Spoon in the pureed avocado into the bowl with the pasta and chopped avocado, season with black pepper, and mustard. Toss with the salad spoon until the avocado is well incorporated.
- Throw in shrimp, chopped parsley and cilantro, and give another good toss. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed to your liking.
- We are done!
I just have to taste it!
Wow, talk about flavor! The pasta is perfect with that nice bite to it and nutty in flavor. Pairs so well in the creaminess and chunkiness of the avocado. The lime is just right, not too acidic and just enough brightness to bump up the flavors.
I love that hit of mustard and together with the herbs gives us the freshness we so want in a summer dish. Let's talk about that shrimp, we used Argentinian shrimp which has the lovely flavor of the sea. Perfectly cooked with a wonderful tenderness, and oh so buttery and succulent. Absolutely fabulous. More so as a whole, this Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad hits every mark for a lovely picnic or outdoor meal. We loved it!
If one were to ask me what seasons do I like best, I will be quick to say the sunny ones, lol. Spring brings with it a freshness, and summer the joyfulness of being outdoors in that oh-so-enveloping warmth and joyfulness. We could not think of a better dish to have outside in our little oasis than this Best Ever Avocado and Shrimp Pasta Salad!
Thanks for joining us in our kitchen, and most of all have fun in your kitchen and truly enjoy this recipe! From both Nicoletta and I, Loreto!
Cheers!
Print
Best ever avocado and shrimp pasta salad
Best ever avocado and shrimp pasta salad, this is the perfect summer picnic food or barbeque side. Fresh flavors, lavish textures, what more could you ask from a seasonal pasta salad. How about some lovely Argentinian shrimp!
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 4-6 people 1x
Ingredients
- 280 g penne pasta
- 2 ripe avocados
- 300 g deveined, and washed shrimp, shells off
- 1 lime, zest and juice
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- salt & pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons evo oil
Instructions
- Place a large pot of salted water on boil. Taste the water, it should taste like a light broth, not too salty. Throw in penne and cook for the required time on the package. We always taste the pasta and make sure it is cooked to that al dente texture.
- Drain and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and give it a stir, set aside.
- While pasta is cooking we can get the shrimp ready. Drizzle olive oil into a sauté pan. Add a pat of salted butter and bring to a medium heat.
- Throw in shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for about 6-8 minutes. When shrimp turn an orange to red color it usually means they are done!
- Turn off heat and place shrimp into a bowl to cool.
- Take avocados, and with a knife cut in half. Twist and separate, take out the pit. Scoop the insides of one avocado onto a cutting board and slice up into small pieces. Toss into a large serving bowl with the pasta.
- The other avocado we are going to scoop out onto the cutting board and chop up.
- Place that into a food processor and add a squeeze of lime juice, some olive oil, and a tablespoon of water. Pulse until smooth and creamy.
- Pour that into the bowl with the pasta and sliced avocado. Season with some pepper, and add mustard, along with a good squeeze of lime. Give it a good toss until the avocado is well incorporated and coating the pasta well.
- Add in the shrimp and chopped fresh cilantro and parsley. Another good toss, taste for seasoning, adjust if necessary.
- Ready to serve.
Enjoy!
Notes
You can use a hand blender to cream the avocado.
If you do not like cilantro, omit. Chives or lemon basil could be a good alternative with the parsley.
Use your favorite short pasta like fusilli, cavatelli, mezze penne, lumache, etc.
Best to serve this pasta salad the same day and eat it fresh, then the avocado oxidizes and gets darker in color. Keep it covered in the refrigerator until half hour before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: side dish/salad
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: summer recipe, Pasta salad, Argentinian shrimp, cilantro, parsley, mustard, picnic dish, sides dish, avocado
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Bernice says
Once again, you have me drooling! I have had many shrimp and avocado salads and I know they are a delicious combo. I bet they're even better as a pasta salad.
★★★★★
Hey bernice, thanks. It is a great combination, we agree, the creaminess of that avocado with its rich flavor profile, pairs so well with those succulent butter poached shrimp! So happy you enjoyed this!
Cheers!
Marta says
I'm always on the hunt for new ways to enjoy pasta and this was a winner. I loved the lime-mustard-herb sauce. It added a brightness to the starchy pasta and plump shrimp.
★★★★★
Hi marts, that is fantastic that you gave this a whirl. You have described the experience of this pasta salad to a T. Thank you so much for trying it!
Cheers!
Sean says
This indeed was a delicious recipe. It was wonderfully easy to make with flavorful ingredients.
★★★★★
Hi Sean, that is the way we like to do it, easy and delicious. Can't beat that! Thanks a bunch for giving this pasta salad a go.
Happy cooking!
Megan says
Best pasta ever. Seriously so yum, and so easy. It was loved by all.
★★★★★
Hi Meagan, that makes us feel very happy, so glad everyone loved it. A true crowd pleaser it is. Thank you!
Have a wonderful day!
Tammy says
Such a fabulous summer salad. I love the combo of the creamy avo with the shrimp. It's light yet hearty. Great meal for the season!
★★★★★
Hi Tammy, you hit the nail on the head. This is a perfect summer meal. Love it with a good back yard BBQ! Thanks!
Veronika says
Such a good pasta salad! I love pasta but don't eat too many hot dishes during the summer so this is perfect. Definitely making this again soon, might try some fresh basil next time!
★★★★★
Hi Veronika, it always inspires us when people try our recipes and enjoy them so much. Truly a lovely feeling for our souls!
Thank you!
Michele says
I love this combination of shrimp and avocado, and it is the perfect addition to a pasta salad.
★★★★★
Hi Michele, Your right, the flavors and textures were spot on for a lovely summer light healthy dish!
Ann says
I made this for our camping trip over the weekend and everyone loved it! Such a refreshing salad! Will definitely be making it again!
★★★★★
Hi Ann, that is the way to do it, luxury camping food. Good on you for trying this. We are so happy it was enjoyed, and on a camping trip to beat all. Thank you so much, made our day!
Cheers!
Dennis Littley says
your salad was a big hit at our family brunch today! Everyone commented on how flavorful the pasta shrimp salad was with the addition of the avocado!
★★★★★
Hey Chef Dennis, that is absolutely wonderful, what a perfect dish for a lovely Sunday brunch. Thank you so much for introducing this recipe to your family, and so happy it was enjoyed.
Cheers!
Amy Casey says
What a fabulous lunch ~ it was delicious and I loved the addition of the shrimp and the lime.
★★★★★
Hi Amy, fantastico, love hearing that this pasta salad was enjoyed so much. That shrimp just takes this pasta salad from norm to luxury. Love that they are butter poached. Such sweetness to an already fabulous dish! Thanks!
Cheers!