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MealDinnerPastaHigh-FiberHigh-ProteinUnder 1 HourUnder 45 MinutesSpecial OccasionOne-Pot or PanMeal PrepWeeknightBakingKid-FriendlyEasyVegetarianHealthyComfort Food

Basil And Avocado Mac & Cheese

Tracy Pan
Community Member
This recipe was submitted by a Tasty Community Member, and hasn’t been tested by the Tasty recipe team.Submit your own recipe here!
Basil And Avocado Mac & Cheese
This recipe was submitted by a Tasty Community Member, and hasn’t been tested by the Tasty recipe team.Submit your own recipe here!
Basil And Avocado Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

for 4 servings

  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves (40 g), trimmed
  • 1 medium avocado
  • 1 garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 package whole wheat pasta
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 ½ cups whole milk
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 1 pinch paprika
  • 1 cup hand-grated medium cheddar cheese (100 g)
  • 1 cup hand-grated colby jack cheese (100 g)
  • fresh parsley, and basil and breadcrumbs, to garnish

Nutrition Info

  • Calories 556
  • Fat 38g
  • Carbs 23g
  • Fiber 5g
  • Sugar 7g
  • Protein 26g

Estimated values based on one serving size.

Preparation

  1. Make the purée: In a food processor or blender, pulse together the basil, avocado, and garlic until a smooth paste forms. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
  2. Cook the pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, add the pasta and cook 1-2 minutes shy of the directed cooking time on the box. The pasta will continue cooking in the sauce later on. Save ½ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta when it's done cooking.
  3. Make the béchamel: In a pan on medium-high heat, melt the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens into a paste, around 2-3 minutes. This is called the roux, and it will be the main thickening agent for the sauce.
  4. Once the roux is made, pour in all of the milk at once, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula. When the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon (around 5-6 minutes), turn the heat off and season with nutmeg, paprika, salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Add both types of cheese and stir to combine the cheese with the sauce. Then, add the basil/avocado puree, pasta, and pasta water. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Spoon the pasta into bowls and finish optionally with parsley, basil, and breadcrumbs. Enjoy!
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