Tree Nut Free Basil-Pesto Kale Salad

Total time25 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time0 min

4.9

(4)

Bright, herbaceous, and deeply satisfying, this kale salad is built around a homemade basil pesto that skips the pine nuts entirely — relying instead on fresh basil, parsley, garlic, lemon, and olive oil to deliver every bit of that bold, garden-fresh flavor. The result is a pesto that's genuinely vibrant without any compromise. Massaging the kale with a pinch of sea salt is the real secret here: it softens the leaves, deepens their color, and transforms what can be a tough, bitter green into something tender and almost silky. Once the pesto coats every leaf and gets a few minutes to soak in, the whole salad comes together in a way that feels far more indulgent than a pile of greens has any right to. Thinly sliced radishes add a peppery crunch and a pop of color that makes the whole bowl look as good as it tastes. A squeeze of fresh lemon and a handful of torn basil on top keep things lively and bright right up until the last bite. Whether you're serving it as a light main or a stunning side, this one is the kind of salad that actually gets requested again.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the salad

2 bunches curly or lacinato kale (about 10 oz), stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
½ tsp fine sea salt, divided
4 radishes, thinly sliced

For the pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
¼ tsp fine sea salt
¼ tsp ground turmeric

For serving

¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn, for serving (optional)
lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Place the torn kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of the sea salt. Using both hands, massage the kale firmly for 2–3 minutes until the leaves darken, soften noticeably, and reduce in volume by about half.
2
Combine the basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, and remaining 1/4 tsp sea salt in a food processor or blender. Pulse 5–6 times until the herbs are roughly chopped.

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