Kale Walnut Pesto with Spaghetti

Kale and Walnut Pesto with Spaghetti is a healthy, nutrient packed pasta dish. It’s easy and quick to put together which makes it simply perfect for any day of the week. 

What do you make when a copious amount of homegrown kale lands on your kitchen counter?

My daughter and son-in-law organically grow their own kale and say that it literally grows like weed in their garden. There is just so much of it! And seeing that they were on their way down south for a week, I was the happy recipient of these nutrient dense greens.

Normally I would simply rub the washed and dried leaves with olive oil and toss in my salads. Or add handfuls of the chopped green leaves to most soup bases.

But then I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to preserve this summer’s bounty by making some home made pesto!

Pesto is a wonderful way of preserving leafy greens and can be used or added to various recipes.

It’s also convenient to have on hand at a moment’s notice as this quick sauce is so versatile.

Prepping Kale 

The kale you see here is more of a flat leaf variety with purplish veins and large overgrown leaves.

But really you can use any type of kale that you may find. Prepping will be the same!

• You’ll need to rinse and pat the leaves down dry.
• With a knife carve out the fibrous and thick part of the vein and stem. But don’t discard the stems, you can freeze and use the stems in soups.
• Coarsely chop the leaves before adding to the food processor as this makes it easier to pack in and pulse.

Not everyone enjoys the slight bitterness of raw kale. But you can deflect some of that bitterness by combining the kale leaves with other leafy greens or herbs.

Some that work quite well are:

• Arugula
• Baby Spinach
• Basil
• Mint
• Parsley

And if you want a Vegan Kale Walnut Pesto simply omit the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese altogether.

You can also substitute walnuts with:

• Pinenuts
• Almonds
• Pecans
• Cashews

Do you have a nut allergy in the family? You can omit the nuts for a nut free alternative!

How To Use Kale Walnut Pesto

Aside from using kale walnut pesto with spaghetti, or another pasta of your choice, you can also use it for:

• Slathering on sandwich bread such as these Pan Grilled Chicken Panini.
• Spread it on flatbread or pizza dough then top with your favourite toppings.
• Use it as a dip and serve with crudités, sliced veggies.
• Dress up a platter of fresh mozzarella with sliced tomatoes topped with dollops of kale and walnut pesto.

My favourite way of serving this pesto is in tossing it with spaghetti which you can have on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes.

And, if you want to add an extra layer of flavour and texture then top your pasta with some homemade toasted bread crumbs.

It takes this dish to over the top gorgeous and delicious!

All you’ll need are some chopped crustless pieces of bread, pan toasted with a little olive oil and you’ll have some crunchy goodness to top your pasta with!

Although I’ve made a few batches, I still have quite a bit of kale leaves chilling in my fridge.

If you have any recommendations, leave me a comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Buon Appetito!