Delicious Meets Nutritious in This Speedy Rotini and Kale Pesto Recipe
Pesto is a zingy sauce traditionally made with basil, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic and pine nuts. It’s a fresh, no-cook alternative to tomato sauce when served over pasta. Here at Woman’s World, we’re always looking for deliciously clever ways to incorporate healthy ingredients into our meals. That’s what inspired us to come up with this Rotini and Kale Pesto recipe.
Kale is a superfood loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Trouble is, it tends to be a little bitter. So for this kale pesto sauce, we combined the veggie with classic basil. The sweet, aromatic herb perfectly balances out the strong, earthy flavor of kale. The result is a fresh sauce that’s not only good for you, it’s absolutely yummy. We promise, once you try this quick-prep Rotini and Kale Pesto recipe you’ll be hooked. (And to make it even easier, check out these tips for how to clean kale.) Watch our how-to video below, and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Related: Looking for more pasta recipes? Check out these 10 easy ideas.
Yields
Total Time
Prep Time
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 8 cups chopped fresh kale, from 16-oz. pkg.
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2/3 cup + 2 Tbs. finely shredded Parmesan
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 Tbs. sliced almonds, toasted
- 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 lb. rotini pasta
- 1 cup herbed croutons, from 5-oz. pkg.
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
PrintIn food processor, mix 4 cups kale, basil, 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, oil, almonds, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and 2 Tbs. water; pulse until combined. Process until almost smooth, adding more water, 1 Tbs. at a time if too thick.
In pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, about 7 min.; drain. Return pasta to pot.
Stir in pesto mixture; stir in remaining kale until softened. Stir in croutons. Transfer to bowls. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Fat: 19 gram
- Saturated Fat: 5 gram
- Protein: 17 gram
- Carbohydrate: 66 gram
- Fiber: 5 gram
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
- Sugar: 2 gram
- Sodium: 370 mg
