Kale Pesto Recipe

Posted March 30, 2012

A gorgeous new take on pesto; celebrating the allure of kale!

Ingredients:

1/2 pound (approx. 20 leaves) – green kale leaves, de-stemmed (totally remove the main, middle stem)
1 C – cilantro, fresh (can use whole leaves + stems if thin & very fresh)
3 each – garlic cloves, peeled, whole
1 1/2 C – cashews, roasted/salted
1/2 C – parmesan, ground
2 C – extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp – lemon juice

Method:

Place all ingredients in Cuisinart and blend until smooth with visible tiny chunks of cashew & kale.

Place kale pesto into a storage container (fitted with a lid) & refrigerate.

Tips/Hints:

Stir into/toss with warm pasta to create a sauce.
Spread on a tortilla, add lettuce, deli meat and deli cheese; roll up tight & make a chilled wrap.
Spread on a tortilla, addgrated cheese & make a quesadilla. Add garden veggies too!
Stir into tomato soup (or your fav soup) for extra flavor.
Toss with roasted potatoes. Mix into mashed potatoes.
Use as a sandwich spread.
Put a small dollop on an omelet or scrambled eggs.
Mix with cooked white beans & chopped tomatoes for a chilled bean salad.
Stir into sautéed veggies.
Stir into chicken salad.
Mix into ricotta cheese when making lasagna to add flavor to the layers of lasagna.
Use a dip for veggies, shrimp, etc.
Smear a thin layer on top of a cooked salmon filet.
You can freeze the pesto. The easiest way is to spoon the kale pesto into ice cube trays, let it freeze, then pop out the frozen cubes & place them in a zip loc baggie - take out frozen cubes as needed (microwave, thaw in the fridge or simply toss the cube with your hot ingredients to melt).
Use 1 1/2 C extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 C flaxseed oil for additional health benefits and flavor. Also experiment with other oils: canola, vegetable or combinations of 2 oils.
Cashews are a tasty alternative to pine nuts in this pesto.
Basil could be used vs. cilantro.
The kale leaves can be very quickly blanched in boiling water (5 seconds) then immersed in an ice bath (10 seconds) & patted dry before placing in the Cuisinart, to create a brighter color and lessen any bitter qualities.
Feel free to reduce or add quantities of the listed ingredients to create a thicker or more viscous consistency of kale pesto.

Contact ATE to have a conversation and learn how we may join passions; crafting a partnership that raises the bar.