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Creamy BLT Pasta Salad: Easy Avocado Lunch Recipe

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This Fresh BLT Pasta Salad is a delightful twist on the classic, featuring a creamy avocado dressing that brings comfort and freshness together. Perfect for a sunny lunch or a picnic, it’s easy to make and incredibly satisfying.

Ingredients

  • Short pasta (rotini, fusilli, elbow macaroni, or small shells)
  • Crispy beef bacon
  • Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • Romaine lettuce, iceberg, or butter lettuce, chopped
  • Ripe avocados
  • Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
  • Lemon or lime juice
  • Non-alcohol white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Fresh parsley or dill
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen short pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse it under cold water until it's completely cooled. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Cook the Beef Bacon: While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add your beef bacon strips and cook until they are crispy and golden brown. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Once cooked, transfer the beef bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess fat. Once cooled slightly, crumble the crispy beef bacon into small pieces.
  3. Prepare the Vegetables: Wash and halve your cherry or grape tomatoes, or dice your larger tomatoes. Wash and thoroughly dry your lettuce, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. Set these aside with the cooled pasta.
  4. Make the Creamy Avocado Dressing: In a food processor or blender, combine the flesh of your ripe avocados, mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), fresh lemon or lime juice, non-alcohol white wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. If the dressing is too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of cold water or a splash of milk until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  5. Assemble the Salad: Add the chopped tomatoes, crispy crumbled beef bacon, and chopped lettuce to the bowl with the cooled pasta. Pour the creamy avocado dressing over all the ingredients.
  6. Toss and Chill: Gently toss all the ingredients together until the pasta, vegetables, and beef bacon are evenly coated with the rich, green avocado dressing. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
  7. Serve: Give the salad a final gentle toss before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or dill just before serving for an extra pop of colour and flavour.

Nutrition

Keywords: This salad is fantastic for meal prepping! Store each component separately until just before serving to keep the lettuce crisp and the dressing fresh. Feel free to customize with additional veggies or proteins.

Find it online: https://homebitesia.com/creamy-blt-pasta-salad-easy-avocado-lunch-recipe/