Paraben Free Kale & Herb Pesto
This vibrant green pesto is built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients — fresh kale, basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil — with no preservatives, synthetic additives, or anything you'd need to second-guess on a label. That matters more than it might seem, because many store-bought pestos and condiments quietly rely on chemical preservatives that people avoiding parabens and their cousins are trying to steer clear of. Making it yourself from scratch means you control every single thing that goes into the jar. The quick blanching step keeps the kale brilliantly green and mellows any bitterness, while the lemon juice brightens the whole blend and acts as a natural way to keep things fresh. A pinch of turmeric and optional fresh ginger add a subtle warmth that makes this feel a little more interesting than a standard herb sauce. It comes together in a food processor in just a few minutes and lands somewhere between thick and spoonable — perfect for tossing with pasta, spreading on toast, or dolloping over roasted vegetables. Clean, bold, and genuinely satisfying to make with ingredients you can actually pronounce.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups curly or lacinato kale, stems removed, leaves roughly torn
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring a small skillet of water to a boil over high heat. Add the kale leaves and blanch for 30 seconds, until bright green and just wilted. Drain immediately and transfer to a bowl of ice water for 1 minute to stop the cooking, then squeeze out as much water as possible with your hands.
- 2
Combine the blanched kale, basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, turmeric, and ginger (if using) in a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and the garlic is broken down.
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