This vegan kale pesto is one of the easiest and most delicious pestos you'll ever make. It takes only a few minutes to whip up this vegan dish that can be used as a pasta or topping for your favorite vegetables.
The kale provides plenty of nutrients, while the sage adds flavor and aroma to this simple dish!

If you're looking to make vegan kale pesto, then this great recipe is the one for you. It's made with kale, sage, garlic, olive oil, and almonds. This kale pesto can be used as either a pasta sauce or topping on your cauliflower steak.
We love our pesto here in Italy. It is the more straightforward solution for a lazy dinner because we add it to whatever pasta we find. Even though you can buy store-bought pesto for a couple of euros, nothing beats homemade pesto, and it is super convenient.
You can make it in 5 minutes. Please make sure you check our Basil pesto, Mint pesto, Arugula Pesto, and our sun-dried tomato pesto, equally easy to make.
Since we use carrots quite often for juicing, and we love zero-waste cooking, we use carrot tops to make carrot greens pesto, which goes perfectly with vegan tuna salads and cold pasta salads.
Pesto has the power to elevate bland vegetarian recipes and make them super flavorful when you have no clue how to make a fantastic recipe out of thin air.
One of the reasons we love this recipe is because not only you can top your favorite pasta with kale pesto, but use it on top of your roasted veggies like cauliflower steaks or add a scoop of leftover pesto to your tofu scramble to give it an extra kick of flavor and nutritional value.
Eat seasonally
Although you can find kale year-round, kale is a winter season green. So this is when kale tastes better, is more fragrant, and delivers the best flavor. It is why it is the best moment to enjoy oven-baked crispy kale and the Tuscan soup ribollita.
Make sure you choose bright green kale.
Kale Pesto Ingredients
This is a very flexible recipe, but these are our favorite ingredients. You can take them as a direction and adjust to your liking.
- Fresh kale
- Toasted almonds (or walnuts, pine nuts, or hemp seeds)
- Garlic
- Fresh sage (or basil)
- Fresh lemon juice
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Ground black pepper
- Nutritional yeast (the cheesy flavor kind)
- Sea salt
Optional: extra red chili flakes and lemon zest.
Note: you could use only kale but adding an extra herb like fresh basil or sage help to counteract kale's bitter flavor.
See quantities and full instructions in the recipe card.
How to Make Vegan Kale Pesto?
In a nutshell, you need to wash your raw kale and then:
Step 1. Lightly toast the almonds.
Step 2. Add kale and nutritional yeast to the food processor and blend with the rest of the ingredients.
Step 3. Adjust the seasoning. Lemon juice for more acidity, nutritional yeast for extra cheesy flavor, and one extra garlic clove for a bolder flavor.
Serving ideas for kale walnut pesto
Kale Nut Pesto is more than just another pesto. It's also versatile and delectable. You can add it to your regular pasta, and this recipe is perfectly suitable for most recipes, and it makes an excellent topping for roasted vegetables and grilled veggies. We love kale pesto so much that it has become our go-to pesto recipe for our grilled cauliflower steaks.
If you are eating your vegan kale pesto with pasta, make sure the pasta is cooked al dente, not more, because, as you stir in the strained pasta, along with some extra pasta water, inevitably the pasta will cook a little more with the heat.
Equipment
To make this kale pesto recipe, you only need a flat saucepan to toast the almonds and a food processor (or immersion blender) to blend all the kale pesto recipe ingredients.
Storage
How long does homemade pesto last?
If you store it in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated, this kale pesto recipe will last for a week. If there is too much olive oil coating the kale leaves, then you can expect that to go rancid before anything else.
Frequently asked questions
Which kind of kale should you use?
All kale types work. Curly kale and deep green kale are my favorite types for this delicious kale pesto recipe.
Can you substitute kale for basil in pesto?
Yes, but you need to consider that kale is a more savory green whereas basil is sweet; thus, to round up the flavor, it is good to add a more aromatic herb such as basil or sage-like we suggest in this recipe. Traditional pesto does not have kale in it, but even here in Italy, you can find pestos made out of several different ingredients, depending on the region.
Can walnuts and almonds replace pine nuts in pesto?
Yes, you can use walnuts or almonds in place of pine nuts. Even though you can use them raw as they are, we suggest lightly toasting them to get a richer flavor out of them.
Can kale pesto go bad?
As with all fresh homemade sauces and condiments, the best before date is around five days, but it depends on how well your kale was washed or if you used pre-washed kale. Also, if you suspect that you will leave it in the fridge for long, it would be better to add more olive oil to prevent the air from oxidating the greens component.
What is kale pesto made of?
The essential Traditional Genovese basil pesto recipe ingredients are fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, and pine nuts. However, you can use different greens in pesto or omit the greens altogether and make a walnut or pistachio pesto. The possibilities are endless!
This dairy-free vegan kale pesto is made with kale, sage, garlic, and lemon, and then we use toasted almonds to replace the pine nuts and nutritional yeast to replace the parmesan cheese.
If you are not vegan but vegetarian, you can use grated parmesan cheese instead of nutritional yeast in equal quantities.
We recommend using good quality Italian extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice to ensure your kale pesto recipe is outstanding.
How do you fix bitter kale pesto?
This recipe calls for the fresh sage to fulfilling that role. Alternatively, you can add basil, a sweeter herb, or add sage to the kale walnut pesto. This will fix it.
Also, you can use raw hazelnuts instead of almonds to add a sweet flavor that, along with salt and the healthy fats present in olive oil and nuts, help neutralize the bitterness of the kale. Is chemistry! Have you ever wondered why they give you potato chips and peanuts with your beer?
Is green pesto unhealthy?
No, kale pesto is a great way to add some greens into your diet, and it is packed with healthy nutrients. Almonds are a good source of omega fatty acids, and nutritional yeast is an excellent source of B vitamins. Kale is high in vitamin A and C, as well as calcium. Pesto contains no saturated fats.
Kale is considered a superfood because it is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic has long been known for its health benefits, such as boosting the immune system and fighting bacteria. So, not only does kale pesto taste great, but it's also good for you!
The key here is to avoid adding too much olive oil to the pesto to ensure the pesto portion you eat does not contain excessive calories from fat.
What nuts are best for pesto?
Pine nuts, walnuts, and raw almonds are my favorite options, but you can also use pecans, hazelnuts, and even sunflower seeds or hemp seeds. Hemps seeds are a great option because they provide excellent nutrition and a lovely nutty flavor and make a nut-free pesto option.
Do walnuts or almonds make pesto bitter?
They don't, but it is better to toast them before using them to make the pesto taste even better.
More pesto recipes
Learn how to use kale and sage on this delicious authentic Tuscan soup, made with healthy staple ingredients, that make up for a full meal.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
Recipe
Vegan Sage and Kale pesto
Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 cups fresh kale about 1 small bunch
- 10 leaves fresh sage or fresh basil
- ¾ cup almonds toasted, or walnuts
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice about ½ lemon
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil more if desired
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
Optional:
- Red pepper flakes
- Spaghetti
Directions
- Wash your kale and remove the leaves from the branches. Also, remove the sage leaves from the branches.
- Lightly toast the almonds. On medium heat, toast the almonds in a saucepan, stirring constantly and not burning them. It should take about 3 minutes.
- Juice the lemon.
- Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until the pesto reaches the desired consistency. You might have to stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula.
- Adjust the seasoning. If you want it to be more garlicky, add an extra garlic clove. Add more olive oil for a more liquid pesto.
If making pasta
- You can start boiling water before making your pesto because it is made fast!
- Boil the pasta as per package directions, with salt. Before straining the pasta on a colander, save some of the pasta water, which will be starchy, so when you add the pesto into your strained pasta, you can add some water little by little to achieve the creamiest texture.
Nutrition Facts
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Food safety
We sometimes take for granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
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Kristen Wood
This turned out exceptionally well! We can't wait to make it again! 🙂
Gus
I am really glad you enjoyed the kale pesto recipe Kristen!
Jacqueline Meldrum
That looks lush. I bet it's delicious on spaghetti.
Charla
Excellent! I feel so confident making my own pesto now.
Kechi
WOW, I love how vibrant this pesto is plus it is nutritious! Am definitely going to give this a try! Thanks for sharing.??
Gus
you are welcome Kechi! Yes, we love making these nutritious but delicious recipes.
Danielle Wolter
What amazing flavors! I love how you put these together. Sage can be overpowering, but I just love it paired with the other ingredients in this pesto. SO yummy!
Gus
I am happy you liked it, Danielle, yes sage is delicious and tricky to use, but it works so well here!
sonia
This is a new recipe for me , I really want to try it!
Jacqui
Absolutely amazing! This recipe is so easy to make, yet super flavorful l. 10/10 recommend anyone to make this.
Gus
Thanks for your comment Jacqui, I am glad you love the recipe!
nancy
what a great pesto to accompany the cauli steak!! 100!!
Dannii
What a delicious looking pesto. The sage sounds amazing.
Sharon
I love the flexibility of the recipe, and it sounds delicious. Pesto is my fav sauce!
Anjali
This pesto recipe was so flavorful and delicious!! Love how healthy it was and that it was vegan friendly too!
Gus
I am very glad you enjoyed it Anjali! Thanks for your comment!
Kristen
This pesto was absolutely incredible! Will definitely make again. 🙂
Gus
Happy to know you enjoyed the kale pesto, Kristen. Thanks for you review.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
Love the combination of kale and sage, such a great idea and so easy to make too.
Lubna
Wow...loving this...never thought of vegan version of pasta.
Gus
Oh yes, here in Italy, most pasta is vegan, as most dry pasta varieties don't contain any eggs. Eggs are used mostly for pasta that needs to be elastic, like filled pasta (ravioli).
Alisa Infanti
Love this so much and a great way to use up my garden sage which I seem to never know what to do with but grow every year!
Heather
Love homemade pesto! Never tried with kale … looks tasty!
Andrea
I love this pesto! Healthy and tastes good on pasta or sandwiches.
Gus
Thank you for your kind words about our pesto, Andrea! We're glad you enjoy it as much as we do. 🙂
Kathleen
What an incredible flavor combination for a pesto! I can't wait to try this on pasta, veggies or even a piece of toast.