Kale Pesto Pizza
A delightful twist on classic pizza featuring vibrant homemade kale pesto, wholesome ingredients, and customizable toppings.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 batch easy whole wheat pizza dough or 1 pound store-bought pizza dough Trader Joe's is a great choice.
Kale Pesto
- 3 cups packed kale (preferably Tuscan/lacinato), thick ribs removed and roughly chopped About 1 small bunch.
- ¾ cup pecans or walnuts Feel free to swap nuts based on dietary needs.
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice About 1 small lemon.
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic Adjust based on size.
- ¾ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper To taste.
- ½ cup olive oil
Pizza Topping
- 2 cups grated low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese 8 ounces.
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Red pepper flakes Optional garnishes.
- 1 cup kale, torn into pieces For topping.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 500°F, placing a rack in the upper third.
- Prepare your pizza dough as per instructions or let store-bought dough rest at room temperature.
- To prepare the pesto, add kale, nuts, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and a few turns of black pepper into your food processor. Pulse while drizzling in the olive oil until you reach your desired consistency, scraping down the sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
- Roll out your pizza dough on parchment paper to about ¼-inch thickness for a crispier crust.
- Spread an even layer of pesto on your pizza base, sprinkling with mozzarella.
- In a small bowl, toss 1 cup of kale with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Distribute this over the cheese evenly.
Baking
- Slide your pizza onto the baking sheet or hot baking stone.
- Bake until the crust is golden and the cheese bubbles, around 10-12 minutes for a baking sheet or as little as 5 minutes for the stone.
- Add red pepper flakes if desired, slice, and serve warm.
Notes
Storing leftover Kale Pesto Pizza: Refrigerate wrapped individual slices in plastic wrap or foil for up to 3 days or freeze separated by parchment paper for up to 2-3 months. Reheat in the oven or skillet for the best texture.