Kale is a plant from the brassica family that also includes such favorites as cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, arugula, and Brussel sprouts.  Kale gained the nickname King Kale due to its superior nutritional profile and health benefits.  It is also delicious and can be easily incorporated into many a meal.

Kale is rich in vitamins A, K, C, B6, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, and Magnesium. It has a high chlorophyll content and contains 3g of protein per cup.  Actually, one cup of raw kale contains more Vitamin C, an important antioxidant, than an orange, and is also one of the best-known sources of Vitamin K.  As well, kale is a good source of fiber and is low in fat and calories.  This makes kale one of the most nutritionally dense foods.

There are lots of ways to use kale in your meals from side dishes to smoothies and even desserts.  Here, we have a list of the best ways to incorporate kale into your favorite pasta dishes.

1. Garden Picnic Pasta Salad with Veggies, Herbs, and Orange-Miso Tahini Dressing

Source: Garden Picnic Pasta Salad with Veggies, Herbs, and Orange-Miso Tahini Dressing/One Green Planet

Kale plays an integral role in this Garden Picnic Pasta Salad with Veggies, Herbs, and Orange-Miso Tahini Dressing by The Whole Foods Diet.  Pasta is tossed together with a rainbow of veggies and covered in a creamy orange-miso tahini dressing that gives a citrusy zing. Here kale is eaten raw. This is a quick meal to throw together and works wonderfully as leftovers.

2. Creamy Kale & Zucchini Pasta

Source: Creamy Kale & Zucchini Pasta/One Green Planet

This is a great recipe for those looking for an alternative to wheat pasta.  It is also ideal for this time of year when zucchini are heavily in season.  In this recipe for Creamy Kale & Zucchini Pasta by Rouxbe, the kale is cooked down with caramelized onions and stirred into the zucchini noodles.  A creamy tahini sauce brings everything together. 

3. One Pot Creamy Tuscan Kale Pasta

Source:  One Pot Creamy Tuscan Kale Pasta/One Green Planet

You can pull this meal together in under 30 minutes.  The creamy sauce in this One Pot Creamy Tuscan Kale Pasta by Shanika Graham-White is made from cashews that give you a velvety texture and a protein boost.  The kale is sautéed with garlic and tomatoes for a rich savory flavor.

4. Pasta Primavera

Source: Pasta Primavera/One Green Planet

This is a really simple dish that requires you to add a few veggies and, of course, some kale to a jar of tomato sauce.  This could be one that you have had in your pantry that has been waiting for the perfect recipe to accompany.  This Pasta Primavera recipe by Wholesome LLC is a perfect weeknight meal.

5. Plant Protein Pasta Salad Bowl

Source: Plant Protein Pasta Salad Bowl/One Green Planet

This Plant Protein Pasta Salad Bowl by Nikki and Zuzana calls for red lentil pasta which adds protein power, but you could use any pasta of your choice.  You will still get plenty of protein from the black lentils and hemp heart-based dressing.  Here, kale is accompanied by its green friends, spinach, arugula, and a host of fresh herbs. 

6. Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta

Source: Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta/One Green Planet

This recipe for Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta by Mitra Shirmohammadi couldn’t be simpler.  Aside from making a pot of pasta, you just need to throw all of the ingredients into a blender to make up a batch of this kale pesto.  Kale is added to the pesto along with the traditional flavor of basil.  Walnuts are used in place of pine nuts, and a healthy helping of nutritional yeast gives it that ‘cheesy’ note.

7. Spaghetti a la Caesar

Source: Spaghetti a la Caesar/One Green Planet

This recipe for Spaghetti a la Caesar by Kim Sujovolsky is another easy one to prepare.  Kale is sautéed with garlic and tossed in with the spaghetti.  Then, the dish is served with a helping of almond parmesan, lemon, and chili flakes.

8. Sweet Potato Noodles with Garlic Cashew Cream

Source:  Sweet Potato Noodles with Garlic Cashew Cream/One Green Planet

Here is another great gluten-free ‘pasta’ option.  This recipe for Sweet Potato Noodles with Garlic Cashew Cream by Christine Zulkosky takes a creamy cashew sauce and serves it with sweet potato noodles, a generous portion of kale, and chunky mushrooms to give it a bite.

9. Comforting Kale Pesto Pasta Casserole

Source:  Comforting Kale Pesto Pasta Casserole/One Green Planet

This Comforting Kale Pesto Pasta Casserole by Florian Nouh is full of texture and flavor.  The crust is made from gluten-free breadcrumbs, and the pasta is tossed in a kale-based pesto.  The whole dish is complied with and then baked for about 15-20 minutes.  It is a lovely vegan take on classic comfort food.

10. Kale Lasagna

Source:  Kale Lasagna/One Green Planet

We can hardly do a list of pasta favorites and leave out the lovely lasagne.  This Kale Lasagna by Peffe Stahl is vegan and gluten-free.  This is a really simple recipe that calls for soy or oat milk-based bechamel sauce which is layered between sheets of vegan lasagna.  The kale is then sautéed with onions before joining the bechamel.

Make your pasta dishes extra delicious and nutritious with a generous serving of kale.

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