Sautéed Kale with Lemon and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
A simple, magnesium-rich side dish with tender kale and nutty pumpkin seeds for a satisfying crunch. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 9 minutes, pairs kale, pumpkin seeds, lemon juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 140 calories and feeds 1, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups kale
- 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp olive oil
- pinch sea salt
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Remove tough stems from 2 cups chopped kale and tear leaves into bite-sized pieces. Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Add kale to the skillet, cover, and cook for 3 minutes until wilted and bright green, stirring once halfway.
- Step 3: Remove lid, add 1 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, and a pinch of sea salt, then cook uncovered for 1 more minute until seeds are golden and kale is tender but still vibrant.






