Cold Pasta Salad Recipes:
Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe with Avocado

Cold pasta salad recipes are perfect for summer dinners, barbecues and picnics, but they work all year round too.

This chicken pasta salad recipe, with yummy soft avocados, is a lovely lunch item with a salad and whole grain rolls.

It can be a healthy recipe too. Use lower fat mayonnaise to cut the fat content if that is a concern for you.

Avocados are rich in nutrition as well as taste. Walnuts or almonds are equally healthy.

You can see that, with the exception of a bit of mayonnaise, this is a very healthy salad recipe.

Pasta Salad

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

3 cups cooked pasta
6 green onions, chopped finely
1 cup mayonnaise
2 ripe avocados
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
lemon juice

For Serving:
large lettuce leaves
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)

If you are starting from dry pasta and raw chicken, boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta to the package directions.

Put the cooked pasta in a bowl. Add the chopped green onions to the pasta, then add the mayonnaise. Add the chopped chicken and mix well.

Remove the skins from the avocados, cut them in half and remove the stones. Cut 8 thin slices for garnish and chop the remainder of the avocados. Sprinkle the sliced avocado with lemon juice and set aside. Add the chopped avocados to the pasta and mayonnaise mixture with the cooked chicken. Season well and add a few drops of lemon juice.

Arrange the salad in a bowl which has been lined with large lettuce leaves. Decorate with slices of avocado. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired. It adds a nice crunch and flavor.

Serves 4.

• Arrange parsley or watercress around the dish if desired. It adds nice color and flavor.
• Use low fat mayonnaise for a lower fat and healthier pasta salad.