Vegan Kale and Basil Pesto Recipe

By Jolinda Hackett

Updated 02/05/18

Homemade Kale Pesto
Westend61 / Getty Images
Ratings (5)
  • Total: 10 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 4-5 cups (16-20 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
79 Calories
6g Fat
6g Carbs
2g Protein
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Sneak a bit of healthy green kale into your pesto by using a half basil and half kale mix. You'll likely not even notice the difference. There are very few wrong ways to make pesto, so adjust the ingredients to your liking, and make your kale pesto as chunky or as smooth as you like.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup kale (if you have leftover steamed kale, you can also use that, but fresh is better)
  • 1 cup basil leaves (fresh)
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast (or vegan Parmesan cheese substitute)
  • 2/3 cup nuts (pine nuts are traditional, but walnut and cashew nuts are nice for variety)
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice (fresh is always best)
  • Sea salt and fresh black pepper to taste

Steps to Make It

In a blender or food processor, combine the kale, basil, garlic, nutritional yeast, and nuts, pulsing just until coarsely chopped.

Slowly add olive oil, lemon juice and plenty of salt and pepper, blending just until desired consistency is reached.

For a thinner, saucier pesto, add more olive oil or other liquid.

Not sure what to do with your kale pesto, now that you've got it? Try using it to make pesto and breadcrumb stuffed tomatoes, or check out these four ways to use pesto.