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–+ servings

Kale Almond Vegan Pesto + 3 Recipes

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Servings

2 Servings

Ingredients

Pesto

  • 1 cup dry roasted unsalted almonds 
  • 2 cups roughly chopped kale tough stems removed
  • 1 cup tightly packed basil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pesto Baked Salmon

  • 4 (8- ounce) salmon fillets
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup pesto
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes

Pesto Quinoa Israeli Salad

  • 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 cup diced cucumbers
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup diced red peppers
  • 1 cup pesto
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice

Pesto Noodles

  • 1 cup pesto
  • 3 medium zucchinis spiralized or peeled with a julienne peeler
  • ¼ cup finely ground almonds
  • Flaky sea salt

Instructions

For the Pesto:

  • Place almonds in a food process and process for thirty seconds until coarsely ground.
  • Add kale, basil, garlic, oil salt and pepper and process in thirty second intervals, until pesto comes together. We prefer chunky, but if you like a smooth pesto, process a bit longer.
  • Store pesto in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When storing, drizzle a ½-inch layer of oil over top of pesto to keep it bright green and prevent browning. 

Baked Salmon Option: 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Place salmon, skin-side down on a well-greased baking dish large enough to hold the fillets without touching.
  • Squeeze lemon juice over salmon, brush pesto over salmon fillets, surround pan with cherry tomatoes and bake at 425°F for 8 minutes.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pesto Quinoa Israeli Salad:

  • Mix quinoa with cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers. 
  •  Whisk pesto and lemon juice to create a pesto-dressing.
  •  Toss veg and quinoa with dressing.
  •  Serve as a side salad or side dish.

Pesto Zoodles

  • Heat a saute 12-inch saute pan over medium heat.
  •  Once pan is hot, lower heat to the lowest setting and add pesto. Cook for one minute just until pesto is warmed through.
  •  Using spaghetti tongs, mix spiralized zucchini into pesto. Cook for 4 minutes.
  •  Serve warm topped with ground almonds and flaky sea salt.