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Home » Recipes » Main Courses

Lemon Garlic Kale Pasta

Published: Aug 5, 2022 · Modified: Aug 5, 2022 by Nicole B.

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This lemon garlic kale pasta is buttery, garlicky, lemony and makes a fantastic vegetarian lunch or small dinner. A topping of grated gruyere cheese takes the dish over the top.

Lemon garlic kale pasta in a bowl with a spoon.
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  • Recipe ingredients, substitutions and preparation:
  • How to make the dish:
  • How to serve the dish:
  • Can I store leftovers?
  • More delicious pasta dishes:
  • Full Printable Recipe

Recipe ingredients, substitutions and preparation:

Kale pasta ingredients.
You need kale, grated gruyere, cold butter, orecchiette pasta, lemon juice, garlic, dried thyme and chicken broth to make this recipe.

How to remove kale stems:

For this recipe, you want to remove the stems from all kale leaves. To do that, set each individual leaf onto a cutting board or cutting mat, then slice along both sides of the stem with a sharp knife. Discard the stems and tear the leaves into pieces roughly 2 to 3 inches in size.

A kale leaf before and after removing its stem.

What type of pasta is best for lemon garlic kale sauce?

A small, cup-shaped pasta variety, such as orecchiette, works best with this lemon garlic kale sauce. That’s because the sauce is fairly loose and little pasta cups can capture such a sauce best.

What ingredient substitutions can I make:

You can substitute Parmesan or Romano or a combination of the two for the gruyere cheese.

How to make the dish:

See full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below!

Step 1. Cook pasta, drain and set aside. In a pot or pan, melt butter and cook garlic in it.

Melted butter and garlic in a Dutch oven.

Step 2. Add chicken broth, thyme and kale.

Butter and garlic kale sauce ingredients in a Dutch oven.

Step 3. Cook until reduced.

Kale, butter and garlic sauce in a Dutch oven.

Step 4. Whisk in butter and lemon juice.

Kale, butter, lemon and garlic sauce in a Dutch oven.

Step 5. Stir in cooked pasta.

Kale pasta in a Dutch oven.

How to serve the dish:

Top the pasta with grated gruyere and serve immediately.

Can I store leftovers?

I don’t recommend that. This dish doesn’t store well because once the pasta and the sauce have been mixed, the pasta will absorb most of the sauce.

More delicious pasta dishes:

  • Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta (no tomato)
  • Creamy Jamaican Jerk Shrimp Pasta
  • Shrimp and Sausage Pasta with Red Sauce
  • Stuffed Shells with Frozen Meatballs and Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating or comment! Thank you!

Full Printable Recipe

Lemon garlic kale pasta in a bowl with a spoon.

Lemon Garlic Kale Pasta

The Spice Train
This buttery lemon garlic kale pasta makes a fantastic vegetarian lunch or small dinner.
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Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Lunch
Cuisine World
Servings 2
Calories (estimated) 527 kcal

Equipment:

  • kitchen scale
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • knife and cutting board
  • whisk
  • citrus juicer
  • cheese grater
  • pots
  • wooden spoon

Ingredients:
  

  • 4 ounces uncooked orecchiette pasta
  • 4 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, divided into 2 tablespoons and 2 tablespoons
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or pressed through a garlic press
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 packed cups kale pieces, (stems removed and leaves torn)
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup grated gruyere cheese*

Instructions:
 

  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain and set aside.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pot or pan.
  • Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 20 seconds).
  • Pour in broth, then add thyme and kale. Bring to a simmer, then put on the lid and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove the lid, turn up the heat and continue to cook until only about ¼ cup of liquid is left in the pot (about 8 minutes). Take off the heat.
  • Whisk in the remaining butter, then the lemon juice.
  • Stir the pasta into the sauce, then distribute onto plates.
  • Top with cheese and serve immediately.

Notes:

*You can substitute Parmesan or Romano cheese or a combination of the two.

Nutrition Information (Estimated):

Calories: 527kcalCarbohydrates: 52.7gProtein: 14.9gFat: 29.2gSaturated Fat: 17.4gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 460mgPotassium: 466mgFiber: 3.1gSugar: 2.5gCalcium: 248mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.

Keywords: garlic kale pasta, lemon garlic kale pasta, lemon kale pasta
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