The most amazing avocado pasta salad
Rating
4.94 out of 5 stars
(49)
Ingredients
10 servings
- 500 g / 1 lb spiral pasta (or other of choice)
- 1 tbsp cooking / kosher salt (for cooking water)
- 1 1/3 cups avocado (smush in cup measures, ~ 1 1/2 avocados, Note 1)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (sub yogurt + milk, Note 2)
- 1/3 cup whole egg mayonnaise (just a bit! Note 3)
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (sub cider vinegar)
- 1 1/2 garlic cloves (, finely grated or minced)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/4 tsp cooking salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup dill (, finely chopped (Note 4)
- 2 x 250g/8oz chicken breasts (, skinless boneless)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (sub ordinary)
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 250 g / 8 oz streaky bacon
- 6 eggs
- 250 g / 8 oz cherry tomato (, halved)
- 1/4 red onion (, very finely sliced)
- 1 celery stem (, finely sliced 0.5 cm / 1/5")
- 1/4 cup dill (, finely chopped (Note 4)
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Preparation
Step 1
Chicken & crispy bacon:
Step 2
Pre-heat the oven to 220°C/430°F (200°C fan-forced).
Step 3
Bacon: Place bacon slices on a rack set on an oven tray. Bake 20 minutes or until deep golden and crispy, then remove from the oven and let it cool - it will get crispier. Then chop into 1 cm / 1/3" pieces.
Step 4
Pound chicken: Cover chicken with baking paper then pound to 1.5 cm / 3/5" even thickness using a meat mallet, rolling pin or cast iron pan.
Step 5
Season: Mix the paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place chicken on a baking tray, drizzle then rub with half the oil. Sprinkle with seasoning, then repeat on the other side.
Step 6
Bake the chicken for 12 minutes or until the internal temperature is 67°C/153°F. Remove from the tray and rest for 5 minutes then cut into 4 x 1cm / 2.5 x 1/2" pieces.
Step 7
Cook pasta:
Step 8
Bring a large pot of water to the boil then add the 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook the pasta per the packet time plus 2 minutes (Note 5).
Step 9
Drain, rinse under water then leave to drain well and cool.
Step 10
Boil eggs:
Step 11
9 minutes: Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. Lower eggs in using a slotted spoon then start the timer for 9 minutes. Reduce stove heat so eggs are not bouncing around so much that the shells crack.
Step 12
Peel in cold water: Remove eggs using a slotted spoon into a large bowl or sink of cold water (iced water is best, but I never waste ice on eggs!). Leave for 5 minutes then peel while submerged under water, it's easier.
Step 13
Pat dry then cut eggs into quarters.
Step 14
Dressing:
Step 15
Place all ingredients except the dill into a container just large enough to fit the head of a stick blender. Blitz until the avocado is smooth.
Step 16
Add dill and jus blitz to mix through. Taste and adjust salt, if needed.
Step 17
Toss:
Step 18
Place the pasta and dressing in a very large bowl along with everything else EXCEPT the eggs. Toss gently to combine.
Step 19
Add eggs, then toss gently to disperse. Serve!
Step 20
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