Avocado Mushroom Pasta Salad

Tomato Dressing:

I’m a big fan of homemade dressings as I find the ready made ones taste too vinegary. With home made dressing I’m able to use better quality vinegar or replace it with lemon. With the tomato dressing, no lemon or vinegar is required as the tomato itself lands a tangy flavour.

Always have fresh tomato puree in the fridge:

During my weekly shopping I buy plenty of tomatoes. Wash and cut them into halves and allow them to cook over very low heat till they become soft. Sometimes I add about a quarter cup of water so that the tomatoes do not get burnt at the bottom of the pan. The water or juice released is used up for soups and dals (lentil curries). Puree the tomatoes and store it in an airtight container. This tomato puree comes in handy for curries and sauces. I avoid using canned tomato puree as it contains preservatives and vinegar.

Some Mushroom Dishes that may interest you:

• Mushroom Spinach Curry ( Dhingri Palak Sabji)
• Shahi Mushroom Korma
• Paneer and Mushroom Enchiladas
• Baked Breaded Mushroom
• Mushroom Egg Fried Rice
• Mushrooms on Toast
• Enoki Mushrooms and Mache Salad
• Pasta with Mushroom Sauce
• Sweet Corn and Mushroom Soup
• Pesto Mushroom Pie
• Mushroom Soup
• Spinach Mushroom Pies
• Vegetarian Bao Buns with Mushroom Filling

Ingredients required for Avocado Mushroom Pasta Salad

• Avocado – ripe but firm
• Mushrooms – I’ve used button mushrooms
• Pasta – boiled as per the instructions on the packet. Use any kind, fusilli, shell, macaroni, bow, etc. Can replace it with wholewheat pasta.
• Lemon Juice – preferably fresh
• Garlic – thinly sliced or minced
• Olive oil
• Cheddar Cheese – cut into small cubes or use any cheese of your choice
• Salt – for the mushroom and also for the dressing
• Fresh Tomato Puree – for the dressing
• Chilli Flakes – to add to the dressing. Optional
• Black Pepper Powder – fine or coarse, for the dressing
• Dried or fresh herb of your choice – to add to the dressing. I have used dried oregano
• Sugar – very little, but an optional ingredient

Dietary Tips:

• For a pure vegetarian version use vegetarian cheese
• Want a vegan option?  Vegan option omit the cheese or use a vegan friendly cheese
• Gluten Free version, replace the pasta with a gluten free pasta

AVOCADO MUSHROOM PASTA SALAD WITH TOMATO DRESSING

Avocado Mushroom Pasta Salad is a hearty, flavourful versatile salad. Enjoy it as a light meal. Perfect as a picnic salad or for parties.

5 from 8 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Light Meal, Salad

Cuisine International

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

FOR THE AVOCADO MUSHROOM SALAD

• 2 cups mushrooms (about 200g) cut into chunks
• 1 cup cucumber sliced or cut into chunks
• 1 cup cooked pasta
• 1 large avocado peel and cut into chunks
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1-2 cloves garlic chopped or minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup tiny cheddar cheese cubes
• ½ cup sweet corn cooked
• ½ cup baby tomatoes cut into halves
• pinch salt

TOMATO DRESSING

• ½ cup fresh tomato puree
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chilli flakes
• ¼ -⅓ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp coarse black pepper powder
• ½ tsp dried oregano or any herb of your choice

Instructions

 

• Heat a wide pan over medium heat.
• Add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the sliced on minced garlic.
• Stir fry for a few seconds but don't burn the garlic.
• Add the mushrooms.
• Stir fry for about 2-3 minutes.
• Remove the mushrooms from the pan and put them in a mixing bowl.
• Allow the mushrooms to cool down a bit.
• Sprinkle salt over the mushrooms and mix.
• Peel and cut the avocado into chunks. Drizzle lemon juice over it.
• Add to the mushrooms.
• Add all the remaining salad ingredients and mix gently.

PREPARATION OF THE TOMATO DRESSING

• Heat the olive oil for the dressing in a small pan over low heat.
• Add the dried herb and tomato puree.
• Allow the tomato puree to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
• Add salt, sugar and pepper powder.
• Mix well and allow the dressing to cool.

SERVING AVOCADO MUSHROOM PASTA SALAD

• Serve the salad with the dressing on the side or mix the dressing in the salad just before serving time.

Notes

• If preparing the salad for a party, prepare everything ahead of time and put in the fridge. 
• Make sure you drizzle the avocado chunks with lemon juice otherwise it will become black.
• Add roasted nuts of your choice.

Keyword a filling salad, accompaniment, avocado mushroom pasta salad recipe, homemade tomato dressing recipe

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