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Kale and Sunflower Seed Pesto + Roasted Red Peppers Stars = Happy Holidays Pasta!

December 20, 2011 By Donna 18 Comments

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

Filed Under: Vegetarian Entrees Tagged With: 20 minute dinner, 20 minute entree, easy pasta dish, kale pesto, kale recipe, kale recipes, kale sauce

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Comments

  1. April says

    December 1, 2012 at 7:03 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 1, 2012 at 9:48 pm

      So glad you enjoyed, April!

      Reply
    • Donna says

      December 3, 2012 at 11:18 am

      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!

      Reply
  2. Deborah says

    December 29, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    Love the red pepper stars!!

    Reply
    • Donna says

      December 29, 2011 at 7:25 pm

      I love festive food!

      Reply
  3. Tiffany {A Clove of Garlic} says

    December 22, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Donna says

      December 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm

      Thanks Tiffany – Merry Mealtimes to You!

      Reply
  4. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says

    December 22, 2011 at 1:59 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Donna says

      December 22, 2011 at 5:34 am

      Same to you and your sweet family, Barbara!

      Reply
  5. Eliot says

    December 21, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    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!

    Reply
  6. Kate says

    December 20, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    Ok, that sounds delicious & so, so very festive!!

    Reply
    • Donna says

      December 20, 2011 at 8:53 pm

      Thanks, Kate! Put these on the holiday menu, I say!

      Reply
  7. Eva kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com says

    December 20, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Donna says

      December 20, 2011 at 8:50 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Eva Kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com says

        December 21, 2011 at 5:51 pm

        Happy holidays to you too Donna.

        Reply
  8. Joanne says

    December 20, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Donna says

      December 20, 2011 at 5:50 pm

      Joanne – I just saw your veggie roll of deliciousness! It looks like Happy Holidays on a plate!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sun Dried Tomato Pesto For a Fast and Easy Pasta Recipe says:
    February 7, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    […] Kale and Sunflower Seed Pesto by Apron Strings […]

    Reply

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