Homemade Kale Pesto

Brighten up your meals with this vibrant and nutrient-packed Homemade Kale Pesto recipe! This quick, no-cook sauce combines fresh kale, fragrant basil, and zesty lemon juice for a flavorful twist on the classic pesto. With its velvety blend of grated Parmesan, garlic, and your choice of pine nuts or walnuts, this creamy green condiment is as versatile as it is delicious. Drizzle in extra-virgin olive oil for a smooth, spreadable consistency, and season to perfection with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Ready in just 10 minutes, this kale pesto is perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip for veggies, offering a wholesome and easy way to elevate everyday dishes. Packed with antioxidants and bursting with fresh flavor, it’s a must-try for pesto lovers!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh kale, loosely packed
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 0.5 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the kale leaves thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or sand, then pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. Remove the tough stems by folding the leaves in half lengthwise and slicing along the stem with a sharp knife.

Step 2

Place the kale, basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts or walnuts, and garlic cloves in a food processor or blender.

Step 3

Pulse the mixture until the ingredients are coarsely chopped and well blended.

Step 4

With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the lemon juice and olive oil until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. You may add more olive oil if you prefer a looser pesto.

Step 5

Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides with a spatula as needed to ensure everything is well incorporated.

Step 6

Season the pesto with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then blend briefly to mix.

Step 7

Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Step 8

Transfer the pesto to a clean container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for a few months.

Step 9

Use the kale pesto as a sauce for pasta, a spread for sandwiches, or as a dip for vegetables.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	788 grams (788.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2361

Total Fat 224.60g	288%
Saturated Fat 38.60g	193%
Polyunsaturated Fat NaNg
Cholesterol 80mg	27%
Sodium 2723mg	118%
Total Carbohydrate 57.80g	21%
Dietary Fiber 12.90g	46%
Total Sugars 8.50g
Protein 66.30g	133%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1548mg	119%
Iron 16mg	90%
Potassium 2790mg	59%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 80.3%

Protein: 10.5%

Carbs: 9.2%