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Home Diet Vegetarian
5 from 2 reviews

Kale Pesto

10 mins
VG Vegetarian
by: Lindsay Grimes
December 19, 2014 (Updated: January 7, 2025)
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Kale Pesto
You’ll love this easy 10 minute kale pesto recipe! I love swapping the kale pesto in for regular pesto. Plus, an extra serving of kale is always fun!

Two words: Kale. Pesto. This isn’t just the best kale pesto. This is the best pesto I’ve ever had. Yeah, you heard me! Here’s the thing. I get super excited when I find a new way to use kale. Kale is not just for salads! I put kale in smoothies. I make kale chips. I add it to casseroles. Ah! The possibilities are endless.

Kale Pesto

I added this pesto to spaghetti squash topped with cherry tomatoes and toasted pine nuts. I was literally licking the bowl I didn’t want it to be over. I kept looking up at Jaryd telepathically asking him, “Are you tasting this?!!” Using words would require taking a moment to pause, clear the food from my mouth, and articulate something. Ain’t nobody got time for that! There’s kale pesto in my bowl, honey!

The other great thing about kale pesto is you never even have to tell anyone it’s kale. No doubt, everyone will be distracted by the vibrant green, and the cheesy, garlicky goodness that the kale will be an afterthought.

Pesto is one of those things that literally takes 5 minutes to make, I don’t know why I ever bought it before.

Kale Pesto

Do it. Dooo itttt. You know you want to. Want some recipes use your kale pesto? Throw it in this chickpea pasta salad, or with these sweet potato noodles!

So let’s make some easy kale pesto!! First, toast your pine nuts in a pan over medium heat.

Kale Pesto

Place the de-stemmed kale (just pull the leaves away from the center stem), garlic, salt, and pine nuts in the food processor.

Kale Pesto

Process until everything is finely chopped, about 30 seconds.

Kale Pesto
Kale Pesto

Add your cheese and extra virgin olive oil and process again for about 10-30 seconds until combined.

Kale Pesto

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

Recipe
VG Vegetarian

Kale Pesto

You’ll love this easy 10 minute kale pesto recipe! I love swapping the kale pesto in for regular pesto. Plus, an extra serving of kale is always fun!

Recipe by:Lindsay Grimes
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
Prep: 10 minsCook: 0 minTotal: 10 mins
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: serves 8+ 1x

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 2 cups firmly packed kale, de-stemmed
  • 2 medium garlic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Toast your pine nuts in a pan over medium heat.
  2. Place the de-stemmed kale (just pull the leaves away from the center stem), garlic, salt, and pine nuts in the food processor and turn it on until everything is finely chopped, about 30 seconds. If you like chunkier pesto, then process less.
  3. Add your cheese and extra virgin olive oil and process again for about 10-30 seconds until combined.

Tips

To make this dairy free, nix the cheese and reduce the oil to about 2 tablespoons!

Nutrition Info:

  • Calories: 1354
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 1623mg
  • Fat: 135g
  • Saturated Fat: 19g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 106g
  • Carbohydrates: 25g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 24g
  • Cholesterol: 22mg
© The Toasted Pine Nut

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Let me know what you put it on!! Enjoy!! xo

You'll love this easy 10 minute kale pesto recipe! I love swapping the kale pesto in for regular pesto. Plus, an extra serving of kale is always fun! thetoastedpinenut.com
You'll love this easy 10 minute kale pesto recipe! I love swapping the kale pesto in for regular pesto. Plus, an extra serving of kale is always fun! thetoastedpinenut.com
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  1. AvatarOssineide Chavarri says

    Posted on 7/26/18 at 2:59 pm

    The recipe came out great and it taste delicious, I am going to eat with cheese ravioli.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      Posted on 8/8/18 at 6:11 am

      Yay!! That sounds delicious!!

      Reply
  2. Avatarmichelle says

    Posted on 5/10/20 at 7:40 am

    So easy and super tasty, I’ll be putting this on everything I can find. Grilled chicken paninis today and a big bowl of pasta tomorrow

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 8/6/20 at 4:56 pm

      Ah that sounds amazing!! I’m so happy you love the pesto! xo

      Reply

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Lindsay

Nice to Meet You!

I’m Lindsay - cookbook author, blogger and chocolate lover! If gluten-free desserts are your jam, you’re in the right place! I live in south Jersey with my family and new puppy Roxie! Some of my favorite things are oat milk lattes, sunny days and warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies.

Read more...

Recipe Key

GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free NF Nut-Free P Paleo Browse All

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