Kale and Sunflower Seed Pesto + Roasted Red Peppers Stars = Happy Holidays Pasta!
December 20, 2011 in Vegetarian Entrees
Holiday food should be easy and festive, don’t you agree? I love creating red and green food that sparkles on a plate and just screams out “Merry Christmas!” when you sit down to eat.
I used frozen cheese ravioli, making this dish just as easy as it is bright and festive! Twenty minutes from grocery bags to table – perfect for the frantic pace of the week before Santa arrives, I say!
Real Italian pesto is crushed, not processed into a paste, but the standard American version is easy to make with a food processor. I love classic basil-and-pine-nut pesto, but decided to get adventurous and try a pesto with another green. Kale is just about the healthiest thing you can put in your mouth. And its deep, dark green is perfect for a holiday sauce.
But. The dish needed some red before it could become a truly Christmas-y pasta dish. Jarred red peppers to the rescue! Just cut them into random star shapes and you’re set for Happy Holiday pasta!
Our Best to You and Yours ~ Have a most Joyous Holiday season!
Donna & Anne
This would be a perfect Meatless Monday Boxing Day feast on Monday ~ It’s what we’ll be eating!
KALE AND SUNFLOWER SEED PESTO
1 large bunch kale, any variety (about 8 cups chopped)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2 cloves raw garlic, diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper sauce
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Blanch kale in boiling water for about 1 minutes, then rinse in cold water immediately.
Process all ingredients in food processor until well blended.
Serve with pasta of choice (I used cheese ravioli)
As proof that I’m NOT insane, here’s some other foodies that have made pesto from kale:
 Kale Walnut Pesto, Shutterbean
Kale Pesto, Always Order Dessert
Kale Pesto Dipped Chicken, Clean and Delicious
Kale Pesto, Comfy Belly
Tried this recipe and it was delicious! The red peppers I just cut up because I was trying to make stars and the were impossible, not sure if maybe you guys have a small cookie cutter or something but I sure couldnt do it lol.
So glad you enjoyed, April!
SO happy you liked this – food should be fun as well as festive, no? And, yes – I do have a set of lots of little star cutters. This would be just as pretty in little squares. though!
[...] Kale and Sunflower Seed Pesto by Apron Strings [...]
Love the red pepper stars!!
I love festive food!
So beautiful AND delicious! I love kale, and I have never thought to make a kale pesto. The stars are a nice touch to make it a little festive. Two thumbs up!
Thanks Tiffany – Merry Mealtimes to You!
What a fun way to dress it up for the holidays. Thanks for your friendship and all the sweet comments. I hope your holidays are spectacular this year.
Same to you and your sweet family, Barbara!
What a great holiday dish. I have a TON of kale growing in our hoop house and I was wondering what else I could do with it (besides throwing it in soups). Thanks for the holiday recipe!
Ok, that sounds delicious & so, so very festive!!
Thanks, Kate! Put these on the holiday menu, I say!
What an absolutely gorgeous dish Donna. I love the little stars! Hope you don’t mind if I borrow that idea ;-)
I have not thought of using Kale in pesto either…I’m kind of a traditionalist that way, but I would give it a try if I was offered some!
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so NO!, I don’t mind at all. Hope you like this fun and easy festive dish – and Happiest of Holidays to YOU!
Happy holidays to you too Donna.
I posted a red, white and green dish yesterday! But now I’m craving yours. I’ve never put kale in pesto before but it sounds like a pretty rockstar idea. With all those nutrients in one place you just can’t go wrong!
PS – love that dish!
Joanne – I just saw your veggie roll of deliciousness! It looks like Happy Holidays on a plate!