Kale Pesto Recipe: Healthy, Low-Oil & Kid-Approved
Many of you may have noticed that Frugal Organic Mama has been silent for the past 6 months. I’d like to apologize to my readership for letting this site slip into oblivion, hopefully you can give me some leeway as I’ve been in the trenches of raising 3 little girls.
However, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel; with my oldest now in kindergarten, the middle in preschool and the baby on a regular schedule, I’m optimistic that I can carve out a few hours a week to give this another go.
Today I wanted to give you my all time favorite pesto sauce recipe. This pesto recipe uses less cheese and oil than traditional pesto sauce recipes and also incorporates some healthier ingredients like kale and nutritional yeast.
My daughters’ pediatrician shared a version of this recipe with me last year. From the very first time I made this, my 5 year old was hooked and now her favorite kind of pizza is kale pesto pizza.
The Recipe (Prep Time: 15 Mins)
✨ Pro Tip: Blenders get sticky with pesto! Use our Natural Cleaning Calculator to mix a vinegar + baking soda solution that cuts through oil instantly.
🌿 Ingredients
- ✓ ½ cup walnuts
- ✓ 2 cups kale (de-stemmed, chopped)
- ✓ 1 clove garlic
- ✓ 1 cup basil leaves (packed tight)
- ✓ ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable broth
- ✓ 1 T nutritional yeast (or parmesan)
- ✓ ⅛ cup parmesan cheese
- ✓ 1 T lemon juice
- ✓ ½ tsp salt
- ✓ ¼ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Toast walnuts: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Toast walnuts on a baking sheet for 4-5 minutes until fragrant. Watch closely!
- Steam kale: Steam over high heat for 4-5 minutes. This softens the kale and reduces bitterness, making it kid-friendly.
- Blend: Add toasted walnuts, steamed kale, garlic, basil, nutritional yeast, cheese, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a food processor.
- Emulsify: Blend on high for 30-60 seconds. Stream in olive oil (or broth) until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve: Toss with warm pasta, spread on pizza dough, or use as a dip for veggies.
❄️ Storage & Freezing
This pesto freezes beautifully for up to 3 months! I like to freeze it in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
Thaw Fast: Use the Microwave Defrost Calculator to thaw a pesto cube in seconds without cooking the basil (which turns brown if overheated).
We Want to Hear From You!
What are your favorite ways to use pesto? Pizza? Pasta? Sandwich spread? Share your ideas in the comments below!