Jeanette's Healthy Living

Where delicious and healthy come together

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • List of All Recipes (alphabetical)
    • Breakfast
    • appetizers
    • soups
    • salads
    • main courses
    • side dishes
    • dips and sauces
    • beverages
    • smoothies
    • Desserts and Cookies
  • Special Diets
    • gluten-free
    • dairy-free
    • vegetarian
    • vegan
    • Liquid/Soft Food Diet
    • Pureed Food Diet
    • Low Residue Diet
  • Cancer Cooking
  • Faith
  • Healthy Living
    • Healthy Living
    • travel
  • About
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Me
    • Media Features
    • Terms & Conditions

Kale Mint Basil Pesto Recipe

July 13, 2015 by Jeanette 9 Comments

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
2.6K shares
  • Facebook2
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

This Kale Mint Basil Pesto is a great way to enjoy summer kale and fresh herbs at their peak. Toss it with pasta, add it to potato salad, spread it on sandwiches or pizza.
Kale Mint Basil Pesto - a summer pesto that's healthy and delicious ~ toss with pasta (hot or cold), add a few spoonfuls to potato salad, or use it on sandwiches and pizza
It’s that time of year when I make fresh pesto using kale from the farmer’s market and other herbs. Over the years, I’ve found turning kale into pesto is the easiest way to get my kids to eat this healthy leafy green vegetable. Although they do love kale chips and roasted kale, kale pesto is a quick and easy way to include kale in meals.

Kale Mint Basil Pesto - a summer pesto that's healthy and delicious ~ toss with pasta (hot or cold), add a few spoonfuls to potato salad, or use it on sandwiches and pizza

I’ve got tons of fresh mint growing in my container gardens this summer, so I snipped a bunch and threw it into this kale pesto, along with a bunch of fresh basil from the farmer’s market. I always blanch the kale ever so slightly just to remove any chalky tastes and mellow the kale taste a bit. Two of my favorite vendors at the local farmer’s market are Riverbank Farm and Shortt’s Farm, both of which sell organic produce.

Kale Mint Basil Pesto - a summer pesto that's healthy and delicious ~ toss with pasta (hot or cold), add a few spoonfuls to potato salad, or use it on sandwiches and pizza

When storing any extra pesto, top off the jar with a bit of olive oil to keep it from turning brown.

Kale Mint Basil Pesto with Pasta and Potatoes

There are lots of ways to enjoy this Kale Mint Basil Pesto ~ toss it with hot pasta, put a few spoonfuls in a potato salad, use it as a spread on sandwiches or pizza, or serve it on crostini with fresh chopped tomatoes.

Kale Mint Basil Pesto - a summer pesto that's healthy and delicious ~ toss with pasta (hot or cold), add a few spoonfuls to potato salad, or use it on sandwiches and pizza
Print

Kale Basil Mint Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch lacinato kale
  • 1 bunch basil
  • 1 bunch mint
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Blanch kale in boiling water for 20 seconds; drain and put in a bowl of cold water to stop cooking; once cool, squeeze dry and roughly chop.
  2. Place blanched kale, basil leaves, mint leaves, garlic cloves and pine nuts in food processor bowl; process until finely chopped; add oil through feeding tube until pesto is blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 

Related Posts
Filter by
Post Page
vegetarian gluten-free salads cruciferous vegetables Summer Recipes vegan dairy-free vegetables dips and sauces farmer's market sauces csa healthy choices green leafy vegetables side dishes Clean Eating Easter Pasta and Noodles Dinner main courses whole grain Pureed Food Diet Breakfast Asian lunch New Year
Sort by
Favorite Kale Salad

Favorite Kale Salad

2020-07-16 00:00:21
jeanette

18

Kale Basil Mint Parsley Pesto © Jeanette

Kale Basil Mint Parsley Pesto Recipe

2019-08-14 05:00:30
jeanette

18

"Mixed Bag" Kale Salad

Mixed Bag Kale Salad with Tomatoes and Cheese with Lemon Dressing Recipe

2019-05-15 05:00:50
jeanette

18

Kale Garlic Scape Basil Pesto © Jeanette

Kale Basil Pistachio Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe

2018-07-04 05:00:13
jeanette

18

Kale Quinoa Tomato Corn Salad © Jeanette

Quinoa Kale Tomato Corn Salad Recipe {Video}

2018-05-28 05:00:53
jeanette

18

Kale Basil Hazelnut Pesto © Jeanette

Kale Basil Hazelnut Pesto Recipe

2018-05-21 05:00:14
jeanette

18

15 Minute Breakfast Kale Quinoa “Fried Rice” Recipe

2017-11-02 05:00:02
jeanette

18

Quinoa Beet Kale Apple Walnut Goat Cheese Salad - a healthy winter salad perfect for lunch or dinner

Quinoa Beet Kale Apple Walnut Goat Cheese Salad Recipe

2017-10-26 05:00:00
jeanette

18

Avocado Kale Oatmeal Bowl - this healthy breakfast bowl is packed with nutrients

Avocado Kale Hummus Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl Recipe

2017-04-17 07:36:43
jeanette

18

Smashed Avocado Kale Poached Egg Toast - this delicious savory breakfast is nutritious and filling.

Smashed Avocado Kale Poached Egg Toast

2017-04-12 05:00:44
jeanette

18

2.6K shares
  • Facebook2
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Filed Under: Clean Eating, csa, dairy-free, GAPS Diet, gluten-free, lunch, main courses, sauces, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: basil, kale, mint, pesto

« Watermelon Mint Aged Goat Cheese Salad Recipe
Chicken Cheese Pasta Casserole With Parmesan Breadcrumb Topping Recipe »

Comments

  1. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    July 13, 2015 at 6:57 am

    I wish I could find kale at this time of year…seriously, not even the frozen one. This looks so GOOD!

    Reply
  2. rachel@ atheltic avocado says

    July 13, 2015 at 11:13 am

    I love how you used basil and mint, that sounds like a great combo with the kale, pinning this!!!

    Reply
  3. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    July 13, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    Love the kale! What a great green-packed pasto!

    Reply
  4. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

    July 13, 2015 at 11:36 pm

    I have yet to try pesto with kale and mint .. can’t wait to try this!!! looks so good!

    Reply
  5. Laura O |Petite Allergy Treats says

    July 14, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Wow Jeanette. That natural color is amazing! I can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
  6. Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says

    July 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Oh, mint! I haven’t tried adding that to a pesto yet! Definitely need to try that soon…

    Reply
  7. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says

    July 17, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Mmmmmm…I love the sound of this, with the mint. And that color, gorgeous!

    Reply
  8. Cindi says

    August 1, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    How much is a “bunch”? I worry I won’t get the proportions right

    Reply
    • Jeanette says

      August 9, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      I generally go by what I can find at either the supermarket or the farmer’s market. They usually sell kale, basil and mint by the bunch. You can adjust the consistency of this pesto with additional oil.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi! I'm Jeanette - welcome! Step into my kitchen, where you'll find healthy dishes packed with flavor and goodness.

[Read More …]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Get Your Free e-Book!

Weekly College Meal Planner

Good recipes come to those who subscribe!

Archives

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Copyright © 2016 Jeanette's Healthy Living · Privacy Policy
2.6K shares
  • 2Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Yummly