Best 4 Easy Kale Pesto Recipes
Kale pesto is a delicious and versatile sauce made from fresh kale, nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. It can be used as a pasta sauce, a dip, or a spread for sandwiches and wraps. With its vibrant green color and nutty flavor, kale pesto is a great way to add a boost of nutrients and flavor to your meals. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner, this article will provide you with the best recipe to make easy kale pesto at home.
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SUPER KALE PESTO
This kale pesto recipe is made with Omega 3-rich hemp seeds and flaxseed oil. Ready in under 10 minutes! For a more pantry-friendly option, use walnuts/pecans instead of hemp seeds and/or olive oil for the flaxseed oil (it's just as tasty). Recipe yields about 1 1/4 cups pesto.
Provided by Cookie and Kate
Categories Entree
Time 13m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Make the pesto: In a food processor, add the peeled garlic cloves and process until the garlic is minced. Add the kale, hemp seeds, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Turn on the food processor and drizzle in the oil. Process until the pesto reaches your desired consistency, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Taste and add more lemon, salt or pepper if necessary. (You can thin out the pesto with more oil, but if you're serving with pasta, keep in mind that you can also thin it out with reserved pasta cooking water.)
- Cook the pasta (optional): Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Reserve one cup cooking liquid before draining the pasta. Let the pasta and pasta water cool for a minute to make sure the high heat doesn't damage the flax oil pesto.
- If you intend to have leftovers, transfer the amount of pasta you think you'll be eating immediately to a serving bowl and mix in pesto with splashes of cooking water. Otherwise, you can mix the pasta and pesto together in your cooking pot, adding splashes of cooking water as necessary. Keep in mind that you have diluted the flavor a bit with the cooking water, so taste and add more lemon, salt or a drizzle of olive oil as necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 440 calories, Sugar 2.2 g, Sodium 372.3 mg, Fat 22.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 47.6 g, Fiber 7.3 g, Protein 17.1 g, Cholesterol 4 mg
KALE PESTO
This vibrant kale pesto is bright, nutty, and delicious! Toss it with pasta, or find more serving suggestions in the post above. Leftover pesto will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months.
Provided by Jeanine Donofrio
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a food processor, pulse the pepitas and garlic until the pepitas are ground up. Add the cheese or nutritional yeast, salt, and several grinds of pepper and pulse again.
- Add the kale and lemon juice. With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil, and process until combined. Season to taste.
KICKIN' KALE PESTO
This recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy fresh kale! This vibrant, spicy addition to pasta or just over fresh bread has a delicious kick!
Provided by The Gruntled Gourmand
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes
Time 10m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Blend kale, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, black pepper, and kosher salt together in a food processor until mixture has a pesto consistency, 30 to 60 seconds.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5.2 g, Cholesterol 3.5 mg, Fat 9.3 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 133 mg, Sugar 0.3 g
KALE PESTO
This leafy green cabbage-like vegetable is a genuine superfood - it's great whizzed up in place of basil in an Italian sauce
Provided by Sarah Cook
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 10m
Yield Makes enough for 10-12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put the pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, oils, kale and lemon juice in a food processor and whizz to a paste. Season to taste. Stir through hot pasta to serve, topping with extra Parmesan and olive oil, if you like.
- To store, put in a container or jar, cover the surface with a little more olive oil and keep in the fridge for a week, or freeze for up to a month.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 195 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 1 grams carbohydrates, Protein 4 grams protein, Sodium 0.1 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Choose the right kale: Select young and tender kale leaves for the best flavor and texture. Baby kale or Lacinato kale (also known as dinosaur kale) are both excellent choices.
- Wash the kale thoroughly: Kale leaves can sometimes have dirt or grit, so it's important to wash them thoroughly before using them. Soak the leaves in a sink filled with cold water for a few minutes, then rinse them well under running water.
- Remove the tough stems: The tough stems of kale leaves can be difficult to chew, so it's best to remove them before using the leaves in pesto. Simply hold the leaf in one hand and use the other hand to pinch off the stem where it meets the leaf.
- Blanch the kale (optional): Blanching the kale leaves before using them in pesto can help to improve the flavor and color of the pesto. To blanch the kale, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the kale leaves and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until they are wilted and bright green. Immediately remove the kale from the boiling water and plunge it into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Once the kale is cool, drain it well and pat it dry.
- Use a food processor or blender: A food processor or blender is the best way to make kale pesto. Simply add all of the ingredients to the food processor or blender and pulse until the pesto is smooth and creamy.
- Adjust the flavors to your liking: Kale pesto can be customized to your liking by adjusting the amount of garlic, lemon juice, and salt. You can also add other ingredients to the pesto, such as nuts, seeds, or cheese.
Conclusion:
Kale pesto is a delicious and versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's perfect for tossing with pasta, spreading on sandwiches or wraps, or using as a dip for vegetables. With its vibrant green color and nutty flavor, kale pesto is a surefire way to add some extra flavor and nutrition to your meals.
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