All Recipes - Creamy Kale-Basil Pesto Pasta (Dairy-Free, MIND Diet-Friendly)

Creamy Kale-Basil Pesto Pasta (Dairy-Free, MIND Diet-Friendly)



When late summer brings in bundles of kale and basil from the garden or farmers’ market, this creamy dairy-free pesto pasta is the perfect way to celebrate the season’s greens. It blends the heartiness of kale with the brightness of basil, creating a luscious, MIND diet–friendly sauce without a drop of dairy. Tossed with your favorite whole grain or legume pasta, it’s a comforting yet brain-healthy dish that comes together quickly and satisfies deeply.

Creamy Kale-Basil Pesto Pasta (Dairy-Free, MIND Diet-Friendly)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups kale, packed, stems removed
  • 1 cup basil, fresh, packed
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • 1 tsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • lemon juice, from 1/2 a lemon
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup water, from pasta cooking
  • 8 oz pasta, whole wheat or chickpea
  • cherry tomatoes, halved

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add kale and blanch for 1 minute. Scoop it out, and let cool slightly.
  2. In the same water, cook your pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain.
  3. In a food processor or blender, combine: blanched kale, fresh basil, garlic, nuts, nutritional yeast, salt, and lemon juice.
  4. Blend, then slowly stream in the olive oil until creamy. Add pasta water gradually to loosen the texture.
  5. Toss hot pasta with the pesto in a large bowl or back in the pot. Add splashes of pasta water as needed until the sauce is silky and clings well.
  6. Adjust lemon, salt, or olive oil if needed. Mix in halved cherry tomatoes.

Related Recipes

High-Protein Eggplant Casserole
High-Protein Eggplant Casserole

This hearty, high-protein eggplant casserole is a brain-healthy twist on a comfort food cl...



Published: Aug 03, 2025