Kale Pasta with Sunflower Cream Sauce

01.21.18
Hello! You've landed on an older recipe. Sometimes the older recipes aren't written as clearly as they should be or something might need to be clarified. If something seems confusing or a question arises, send me an email and I'll help!

Kale Pasta with Sunflower Cream Sauce | Naturally Ella

My kitchen would not be complete without a stash of nut/seed cream (so much so, in fact, I made a video for the pantry reset series.) It's a lovely addition to soups, porridge, dressings, or sauces. This kale pasta is the perfect way to use the sunflower cream. The pasta comes together fast and also features garlicky kale (that can be made ahead of time.) Use your favorite pasta and you have an easy weeknight dinner.

Kale Pasta with Sunflower Cream Sauce | Naturally Ella
Print Pin Rate

Kale Pasta with Sunflower Cream Sauce

2 servings
A delicious, vegan pasta that uses garlicky kale and tossed with an easy sunflower cream sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Pasta:
  • 4 ounces pasta
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 cups shredded kale
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
Sauce:
  • 1/3 cup soaked sunflower seed
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pinch of salt
  • Chili flakes (as needed)
  1. Cook pasta according to direction, drain, reserving the liquid, and set aside.
  2. Heat a large pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook for a minute, just until fragrant. Add the kale to the pan and continue to cook for for a minute or two, just to start the kale wilting. Once the kale has wilted slighting, remove from the heat and add the pasta.
  3. Combine the soaked sunflower seeds with the water, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, and salt in a high-speed blender. Puree until smooth. Add to the pan and toss. Add a splash or two of reserved pasta water as needed to thin and coat the noodles. Serve with a sprinkle of chili flakes as needed.
Notes
Tips + Tricks: I typically soak the sunflower seeds for two hours before making. Make the sunflower cream ahead of time for a quick dinner.
Stock up on the Pantry Ingredients: sunflower seeds, kale
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time :15 minutes

Kale Pasta

variations

The three components can easily be adapted for whatever you have on hand. Change up the sauce, swap out the greens, or change up the pasta. It's all up to you and what's fresh!

Cashews/Almonds: Swap the sunflower cream for cashews cream or almond cream.

Greens: Swap the kale for chard, collards or spinach. You can also do a mix of greens- us whatever you have!

Pasta: This is great with grains or alternative pasta.

4.10 from 10 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




4 comments on “Kale Pasta with Sunflower Cream Sauce”

  1. Hi Erin! I was planning on making this for dinner tonight but realized I accidentally bought roasted sunflower seeds instead of raw. Can I still soak them for the sauce or is it necessary they are raw?

  2. I made this! Although, I already had cashew sauce prepared so used that instead; nevertheless, the creaminess of the sauce mixed with the garlicky kale and hearty pasta proved a delicious flavor combination! And so so easy to make! Thanks!

  3. Wow, that was yum
    I did 1tbsp olive oil
    2 garlic cloves
    When garlic was golden I added about 6mushrooms cut
    2tbsp water and cooked mushrooms
    Then added kale
    It was booooomb, that sauce is gold

hi. 

Welcome to my little internet nook. On this site you'll find over a thousand vegetarian recipes, pantry knowledge, and more. I'm ever obsessed with food from gardening, cooking, and preserving. I hope you'll find endless inspiration on these pages and visit often. 

Virtual hugs, Erin (aka: e.l.l.a.)
A NATURALLY NEWSLETTER

a few good grain recipes

Do away with ads, get access to the back issues of casual, be the first to know about upcoming events, and more.
become a member

beans. beans. beans.

Have a nerdy food question, need a recipe recommendation, or just want to share something exciting you've made?
magnifiercross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram