Kale Pesto Pizza
So, I’m trying to get healthier. I know, typical January thing. But I want to get healthier and still eat pizza. Seems legit right? And somewhat impossible. But have you met kale pesto pizza?
Oh yes, kale pesto pizza is the answer. Do you know how many veggies this pizza packs? A whole lot. It’s practically a salad. But it’s a pizza. Miracles DO happen.
I know I’ve told you before when I made my healthy loaded sweet potato fries, but I have a problem. I want to be healthy and eat healthy, but I absolutely hate feeling deprived. You see, I have an appetite and I’m not afraid to use it. I eat a salad and my stomach continues to rumble at me after I’m done eating. It’s trying to tell me to eat all the things.
But you know, I try to control that voice. It’s a challenge but it has gotten somewhat easier.
I no longer want all the things. Only all the yummy things. Often, the things I have around me aren’t that yummy. Because they are my daughter’s partially licked and slobbered on leftovers. No thanks.
Of course, my refusal of her leftovers saddens her. She would like nothing more than to feed me from her spoon. Every day during meals, she uses this same little toy spoon from her Minnie Mouse tea set to shovel in grated Parmesan cheese. The child seriously lives on cheese, chocolate milk, and bits of Play Doh. When Goose is done eating, she graciously shares the grated cheese with our labrador, who eats it off the spoon. Then when the dog looses interest, she digs the twice slobbered spoon back into the pile of cheese. She inevitably turns to me and says, “Mama eat it.”
No thanks kid. Love that you are trying to share, but even this mama with her voracious appetite has her limits. So clearly, all the things do not appeal even after a dinner of salad. However, after I dodge the the spoon of slobber, if I eat a salad for dinner there’s a pretty high likelihood that I will lock myself into the bathroom so I can inhale some snacks.
And this is why my diets fail when I try to eat only salad. I need things in my life like this kale pesto pizza. It packs in the superfood with tons of vitamins. I use 6 cups of kale to make the pesto sauce. 6 cups. Let that sink in. That’s so much superfood that eating the pesto practically turns you into a super hero. Eat this and you’re suddenly able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Unfortunately, it doesn’t give you the super power to tame toddler tantrums. I’ll let you know when I find the food that does that.
Now granted, I use 6 cups of kale to make about 1 3/4 cups of pesto. You won’t need all that pesto for this pizza, but ohhhh the other delicious things you can do with it. Pizza is just the beginning. There are pasta and dip recipes that are equally as delicious coming your way that use this same pesto.
Don’t be all skeptical of the pesto. It’s magic stuff. Really, even though it’s packed with kale, it doesn’t taste kale-y. It’s fresh and garlicky with a hint of brightness from the lemon. It’s perfect. And it goes so well with the mozzarella and Parmesan on the pizza. Plus it’s so easy to make. The pesto takes 5 minutes to throw together. The pizza, you can totally take a short cut and use a store bought crust, or you can make your own homemade crust. For my favorite pizza crust recipe check out my French Onion Pizza or the White Pizza with Arugula and Sun Dried Tomatoes.
I promise you if you have not tried kale yet, this pesto makes the perfect entry into the world of all things green and superfood-y. And it will let you eat pizza that could substitute for a salad. Winning, right?
Ingredients
For the Pesto
- 6 cups of loosely packed kale
- 1/2 cup of walnuts or pine nuts
- 6 garlic cloves
- 3/4 cup to 1 cup of good olive oil
- juice from half a lemon
- 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
For Pizza
- One pizza crust I use a gluten free crust
- About 6 ounces of fresh mozzarella cut into slices
- 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients for the pesto into a food processor except the olive oil and pulse together. Drizzle in the olive oil slowly while pulsing the processor until the pesto reaches the desired consistency. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400. Spoon desired amount of pesto onto the pizza crust. Cover with fresh slices of mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle on Parmesan. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden.
Not usually a kale fan but this looks delicious!
Can’t even tell it’s kale. 🙂
That looks delicious and amazing! I SO want to try this!
Kale is my favorite veggie. I might try this, looks like it is easy to make. Thank you
It’s so easy! Hope you enjoy it!
This actually looks really good. I will have to try this! Thank you for sharing!
Enjoy!
I mean, that practically is a salad, right? Looks delicious!
Totally salad!!!
Pesto is one of my favorite flavors 🙂 I want to try it!
Enjoy!
I love to make my own pesto and putting it on pizza is always a special treat.
It is.
This looks absolutely delicious! Need to try this soon!
http://www.liliesandlambs.com
Enjoy!
This looks delicious!! I’m with you on wanting to eat healthier… but still wanting pizza! Haha, great solution! 🙂
The struggle is SO REAL!
All my favorites – pesto, kale, and pizza! Love this recipe!
Thank you!
Oh my! This looks delicious. I would love of a slice or two of this pizza.
Enjoy!
This recipe looks so delish! I love pizza and am eating healthier so the kale is perfect. Love how quick and easy it is to fix!
Thank you.
This looks amazing! I love pesto and haven’t ever had kale pesto. I will definitely be making that pesto this summer!
Thank you.
This looks great! I’ve recently been making homemade pizza dough and looking for different pizza recipes!
Homemade pizza is the best 🙂
I love making homemade pizzas! This may need to be my next one!
Enjoy!
This sound fantastic! What a great combo of flavors!
Enjoy!
I love taking a favorite food and recreating it into a healthy, as well as delicious version. This Kale Pesto Pizza looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it.
Enjoy!
I always have Pesto at home. So I will try this one for sure.
Thank you!
Looks delicious! Especially because we love Pesto in our house!
Pesto is so yummy isn’t it?
Great blog post! I seriously LOVE kale and pesto, and I never think to combine the two loves. I am going to make this recipe today as I have a delicious GF pizza crust in my freezer. Yum! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy!
This looks INCREDIBLE! Right now I’m dairy free, but have been enjoying pizza with just sauce and toppings (minus cheese!). I bet pesto & kale without cheese would be just as delicious!
It would be good with no cheese.
looks so tasty! love all things pesto
Me too!
This looks amazing! I love kale and pesto. Two of my faves!
Thank you!