Pasta with Kale Sauce 

By Dani Potts | July 30, 2024

Portions: 4  Total Time: 20 minutes  

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 bunch lacinato kale (stems removed/chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and smashed 
  • 1/2 shallot(or onion), diced
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Pinch red pepper flakes 
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound pasta (macaroni, rigatoni or your favorite noodle!)
  • 1/2 cup cashews, soaked
  • Zest from 1 lemon 

Optional: Top with nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Boil a medium pot of water and blanch the kale for 4-5 mins until tender, remove from water but do not discard. 
  2. Cook pasta in kale water and reserve 1/3 cup pasta water. 
  3. While pasta is cooking, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat and cook the shallot and garlic until soft 3-5 mins.
  4. Add salt, pepper, and chili flakes and cook for another 30 seconds or so. 
  5. Put cooked shallots, garlic, oil into a blender with drained cashews and 5-6 tablespoons of pasta water and blend until smooth.
  6. Add cooked kale, 1 tablespoon oil and lemon zest and blend until smooth and creamy. 
  7. Toss pasta in sauce and add optional nutritional yeast or parmesan. Enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS

Kale, the ultimate nutritional powerhouse! Packed with an abundance of vitamins A, C, and K, this leafy green marvel is a key player in fortifying your immune system. Vitamin A promotes vision health, while vitamin C contributes to collagen production. Remarkably, kale delivers a whopping 325% of your daily Vitamin K needs, crucial for blood clotting and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Beyond its abundance in vitamins, kale is rich in phytochemicals, offering protection against colon and prostate cancer. And the best part? Kale’s versatility shines through, making it a delightful addition to salads, soups, sautés, pasta sauces, and more!