Kale Pesto Pizza: A classic and delicious pizza recipe made using homemade kale pesto and toppings of your choice. Perfect for a weeknight meal. Adding kale pesto instead of the marinara sauce gives your pizza a vibrant green color and unique flavor.
While you are here, also check our pizza recipes without tomato sauce: classic white pizza (pizza bianca) and mushroom pizza with caramelized onions.
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Recipe card
Kale Pesto Pizza | Pizza without Tomato Sauce
Equipment
- Baking pan
Ingredients
For kale pesto
- 3 cups Kale chopped roughly
- ½ cup Nuts pecan, walnuts, cashews, or almonds - any one or combine your favorite
- ¼ cup Parmesan
- 3 Garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- ¼ cup Olive oil
For kale pizza (add your favorite pizza toppings)
- Homemade pizza dough or Store-bought
- Kale pesto
- 1 to 2 cups Mozzarella cheese add as needed
- 1 Onion sliced lengthwise
- ½ Tomato chopped optional
- 1 teaspoon Olive oil more for garnish
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
Homemade kale pesto
- In a blender or food processor, add Kale, nuts, parmesan, garlic cloves, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and turn on the blender. Slowly drizzle olive oil and blend until you get the desired consistency of pesto, scraping down the sides as needed.3 cups Kale, ½ cup Nuts, ¼ cup Parmesan, 3 Garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon Lemon juice, Salt, Pepper, ¼ cup Olive oil
- Taste check and adjust salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Kale Pizza
- Heat tablespoon of oil in a pan. Add the sliced onions and saute till it becomes caramelized and golden brown.1 teaspoon Olive oil, 1 Onion
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease the baking pan with olive oil or line it with parchment paper.
- Roll the pizza dough into 12-inch pizza or 2 smaller 9-inch pizza dough to the desired thickness.Homemade pizza dough
- Spread the kale pesto onto the rolled pizza dough, add mozzarella cheese, sauteed onion, and tomatoes.Kale pesto, 1 to 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, ½ Tomato chopped
- Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil and add some grated Parmesan.2 tablespoon Parmesan
- Bake for about 12 minutes or until the crust becomes golden and the cheese turns bubbly.
- Let the pizza rest for 4-5 minutes before serving. You can top it with pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve with a glass of wine, and enjoy.
Notes
- For the pesto, add nuts of your choice. Traditionally, pine nuts are used in pesto, but cashews, pecans, and almonds are good replacements.
- You can rub 1 cup of chopped Kale with 1 tablespoon olive oil and add it on top of the pizza before baking.
- Instead of tomatoes, mushrooms can also be added.
Nutrition
Ingredients
For kale pesto
Kale: Use any variety of kale you like.
Nuts: You can add walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, cashews, and almonds or combine them all.
Garlic: Fresh, roasted, or garlic powder will work.
Olive oil: For its robust flavor and aroma.
Pepper, salt, and lemon juice to taste.
For kale pizza
Homemade or store-bought pizza dough, mozzarella cheese, and caramelized onions are needed. You can add olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, and bell peppers if desired.
Homemade kale pesto
- In a blender or food processor, add Kale, nuts, parmesan, garlic cloves, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and turn on the blender. Slowly drizzle olive oil and blend until you get the desired consistency of pesto, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Taste check and adjust salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Kale pizza
- Heat tablespoon of oil in a pan. Add the sliced onions and saute till it becomes caramelized and golden brown.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease the baking pan with olive oil or line it with parchment paper.
- Roll the pizza dough into 12-inch pizza or 2 smaller 9-inch pizza dough to the desired thickness.
- Spread the kale pesto onto the rolled pizza dough, add mozzarella cheese, sauteed onion, and tomatoes.
- Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil and add some grated Parmesan.
- Bake for about 12 minutes or until the crust becomes golden and the cheese turns bubbly.
- Let the pizza rest for 4-5 minutes before serving. You can top it with pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve with a glass of wine, and enjoy.
Tips
- For the pesto, add nuts of your choice. Traditionally, pine nuts are used in pesto, but cashews, pecans, and almonds are good replacements.
- You can rub 1 cup of chopped Kale with 1 tablespoon olive oil and add it on top of the pizza before baking.
- Instead of tomatoes, mushrooms can also be added.
Store and reheat leftovers
Slice and store any leftovers wrapped in foil or airtight conatiner for 3 to 4 days. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and reheat until heated through.
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Note: We originally posted this kale pesto pizza in Nov 2015. It has now been modified in March 2024 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble
This looks fantastic! I've always wanted to try kale on pizza, and this looks like a great way to try it 🙂
Kushi
Thank you Kathleen 🙂 Do try it and I am sure you are going to love this !
Abida
I have not cooked with Kale in so long, this would be a perfect recipe for my family who are picky with their veggies! Sharing on my facebook page!
Kushi
Thank you so much dear. I am sure your family is going to love this !
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
I love kale. I love pesto. And I also love pizza. So does that mean, you are inviting me for dinner! 🙂 Lovely share, Kushi! 🙂
Kushi
Yes Anu 🙂 always welcome and thank you so much!
Morten
It looks delicious. I must try this out next time for pizza.
Kushi
I am sure you will love this. Thank you 🙂
RecipeDabba
this is indeed tempting..will surely try this. Do drop in to http://www.recipedabba.com sometime 🙂
Kushi
Thank you 🙂 Will check your page soon 🙂