Kale Pesto Pasta {15-Minute Recipe}
Pesto pasta is such a delicious simple meal option, but we have made it even more nutritious by making our own homemade pesto with kale.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 451kcal
Ingredients
- 280 g Pasta
- 20 g Kale de-stalked
- 30 g Pine nuts
- 15 g Parmesan grated
- 60 ml Olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 2 Garlic cloves crushed
- 1 pinch Sea salt
- 1 pinch Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook 280 g Pasta according to the packet instructions, normally 10-12 minutes.
- Put 20 g Kale, 30 g Pine nuts, 15 g Parmesan, 60 ml Olive oil, 1 tablespoon Lemon juice, 2 Garlic cloves, 1 pinch Sea salt and 1 pinch Ground black pepper into a food processor.
- Process to form a smooth pesto.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain and return to the pan. Stir the pesto through the pasta and serve immediately.
Notes
- Remove any thick, woody stems on the kale before blending. The leaves blend much more easily and give you a smoother sauce.
- Do not skip tasting the pesto before tossing it with the pasta. Kale can vary in bitterness, lemons vary in sharpness, and Parmesan varies in saltiness. A quick taste lets you balance everything properly and add more salt, pepper or lemon if needed.
- Avoid overheating the pesto. This is not a sauce that needs lots of cooking. Stir it through the hot pasta off the heat or over very low heat.
- If your pesto feels too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time until it blends smoothly. If it tastes a little flat, it almost always needs either more salt, more lemon, or a little extra Parmesan. If it tastes too sharp, add a touch more olive oil or Parmesan to soften it.
- To make it feel even more special, toast the pine nuts before blending. This is a small step, but it adds a deeper, warmer flavour that makes the pesto taste even better.
Nutrition
Serving: 1portion | Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 531IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
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