Creamy Kale Pasta

More meatless pasta dishes to enjoy:

• Avocado Bell Pepper Pasta
• Lemon Parmesan Orzo
• Pesto Orzo Salad

Ingredients

• spaghetti - or your favorite pasta cut, long or short
• olive oil - to cook the garlic and kale
• garlic - minced
• dinosaur kale - see substitution notes for more options or visit the frequently asked questions to learn more about kale
• sun-dried tomatoes - drained and thinly sliced
• heavy whipping cream - for a thick and creamy sauce, see substitution notes
• parmesan cheese - shredded or grated
• lemon juice and zest - for a zesty flavor
• salt and pepper - to taste
• fresh basil - optional, to garnish

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Cook spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Be sure to salt the water. Drain but do not rinse.

Meanwhile, add the olive oil (or the oil from sun-dried tomatoes) to a large pot or Dutch oven and bring to medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir for 30 to 60 seconds or until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Add the kale and continue to cook for about 5 minutes.

The kale will wilt and the stalks becomes tender.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes and heavy cream.

Add the parmesan cheese. Stir well and heat through

Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper (to taste) and mix in the cooked spaghetti. Stir until well-coated.

Top creamy kale pasta with fresh basil (optional).

Substitutions

• Spaghetti - Spaghetti can be substituted with any long pasta cut (e.g., linguine and angel hair) or short pasta cut (e.g., rotini and bow ties).
• Kale - Dinosaur kale (also known as lacinato kale, Tuscan kale, Italian kale, cavolo nero, black kale, or dino kale) is preferred because it is less bitter. Still, it can be substituted with green kale or baby spinach.
• Sun-dried tomatoes - Dried tomatoes or tomatoes in oil can be used. The type stored in oil is more tender so it is recommended.
• Heavy whipping cream - Heavy cream makes a thick, delicious sauce. It can be substituted with whipping cream (less fat) or double cream (more fat). Double cream is the British equivalent of heavy whipping cream. Learn more about cream types.

Dietary considerations

• Vegetarian - It's important to note that parmesan is not always vegetarian because it typically uses rennet. However, many brands (365 Whole Foods, Kroger, Organic Valley, and Trader Joe's) are vegetarian-friendly. See a list of vegetarian cheeses.
• Vegan - Use egg-free pasta and non-dairy cream and parmesan alternatives.
• Gluten-free - Use gluten-free pasta.

Equipment

• Large pot - for boiling the pasta
• Dutch oven - for making the sauce and combining the pasta to coat

Storage

Store creamy kale pasta in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.

This recipe is best eaten fresh or stored in the fridge. While you can freeze pasta, the texture changes once thawed and reheated. It often breaks up in the reheating process and becomes dry or mushy.