healthy & light: zucchini “pappardelle” with avocado “cream”

healthy & light: zucchini “pappardelle” with avocado “cream”

In preparation for my kitchen remodel next month, I was speaking with one of the designers at the kitchen showroom …I wanted to show her the remodel of my bar area from last summer so I pulled up my blog post titled “Construction Dinner.” In addition to photos of my bar remodel, the post also contains a recipe for Orecchiette with Warm Avocado Cream. While interested in the bar, she was also intrigued by the avocado cream. She loved avocado but was trying to keep carbs to a minimum. So I suggested to try it with zucchini instead of pasta. If I was suggesting she try my recipe, I thought that I had better test it myself first!

Stephanie – definitely try it with the zucchini!

zucchini “pappardelle” with avocado “cream” recipe

The name pappardelle comes from the Italian verb “pappare”, to gobble up. You can feel good about gobbling up this light and healthy dish! And also feel good about preparing the whole thing in less than 10 minutes. Pappardelle are large, very broad flat pasta noodles. This zucchini has a similar shape. I use a vegetable peeler to shave long wide strips of zucchini, reserving the seedy center portion for another use. Place the zucchini pappardelle into boiling vegetable stock for 15 seconds, then drain well (reserving stock for the sauce) and season with a little sea salt.

Avocado “Cream”

• 1 avocado
• large handful fresh cilantro
• 1/2 c. non-fat greek yogurt
• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• juice from one lime
• 1/2 c. hot vegetable stock
• salt to taste

Blend avocado and the next five ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Blend stock with the avocado mixture, add salt to taste, then ladle over the zucchini.

I add tomatoes for nice summery note and finish the dish with basil, cilantro, and red pepper flakes.

summer fest features avocados this week!

Summer Fest is a season long franchise where Food Network editors team up with bloggers to share recipes about everyone’s favorite summertime fruits and vegetables. Be sure to check out the Pinterest Board with over 90,000 followers called Let’s Pull Up A Chair! And if this healthy & light: zucchini “pappardelle” with avocado “cream” got you longing for some lovely summer avocados, you might enjoy taking a peek at other green dishes from some fabulous bloggers below…

Feed Me Phoebe: Kale Salad with Avocado, Cranberries and Peptias
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Smoked Avocado Tomato Salsa Guacamole
Weelicious: Avocado Honey Dip
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
Red or Green: Avocado and Cilantro Pesto with Whole Wheat Penne
Blue Apron Blog: Avocado Tartines with Goat Cheese
Domesticate Me: Summer Salad with Avocado, Corn and Grilled Herb Shrimp
Dishin & Dishes: Creamy Avocado Citrus Dressing, No Cream, No Oil
The Heritage Cook: Summertime Vegetable Stuffed Avocados 
And Love It Too: Sugar-Free Avocado Fudgesicles
Haute Apple Pie: Avocado BLT Egg Salad
Daily*Dishin: Colorful Sweet Pepper-Avocado Salsa
Devour: No-Cook Avocado, Shrimp and Mango Salad
Taste With The Eyes: Zucchini “Pappardelle” with Avocado “Cream”
FN Dish: 10 Audacious Guacamole Add-Ins