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A spoon sits in a bowl of Kale and Walnut Pesto on a white background.

Kale and Walnut Pesto

This Kale and Walnut Pesto is a great seasonal recipe for Spring and Fall. Mix it with pasta for an easy weeknight dinner!
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Course: Sauces & Seasonings
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 8 servings (about 1 cup)
Calories: 169kcal

Ingredients

  • cup walnuts
  • 1 bunch kale thick stems removed, leaves torn into pieces (about 3 cups worth)
  • 1 clove garlic roughly chopped
  • cup Parmesan cheese
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add in the walnuts, and toast until just fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • In the basin of a food processor, add in the walnuts, kale, garlic, cheese, and lemon juice. Pulse until everything is well-chopped. You may need to stop and scrape the sides a few times.
  • With the food processor running on low, stream in the olive oil, until all is mixed in. Season with salt and pepper.

Notes

To use on pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water before draining. Toss drained pasta with desired amount of pesto and cooking water to create a sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 0.3mg