Spaghetti with Garlicky Greens
This tangle of noodles and garlic-laden ribbons of kale and chard is a delicious way to eat your greens. Dinosaur kale, also known as lacinato or Tuscan kale, has dark bluish-green leaves and a more delicate flavor than curly kale.
Ingredients
- Sea salt, to taste, plus 1/4 tsp.
- 12 oz. whole-wheat spaghetti or linguini
- 1 bunch (about 1/2 lb.) red or green chard
- 1 bunch (about 1/2 lb.) dinosaur (lacinato) kale
- 4 Tbs. olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- Lemon wedges for serving
Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes, or according to the package instructions.
Meanwhile, prepare the chard and kale: Tear the leaves from their tough ribs and stems, discarding the ribs and stems. Stack the leaves and fold or roll up and slice them thinly. Transfer the greens to a colander and rinse under cold running water, then drain well.
In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, warm 2 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the greens and stir to coat evenly with the oil. (If they don’t all fit at once, add in handfuls after allowing the first batch to wilt.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender, about 5 minutes, adding a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to the pan if needed to prevent sticking.
Drain the pasta and return it to the warm pot. Add the cooked greens, cheese, the 1/4 tsp. salt and the remaining 2 Tbs. olive oil and stir to mix well. Divide evenly among pasta plates or bowls and serve immediately. Pass lemon wedges at the table. Serves 4.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Healthy in a Hurry, by Karen Ansel, MS, RD and Charity Ferreira (Weldon Owen, 2011).