Pasta with Swiss Chard
Elevate your weeknight dinners with this vibrant and comforting Pasta with Swiss Chard recipe, a perfect blend of earthy greens and simple yet bold flavors. Featuring tender pasta tossed with sautéed garlic, Swiss chard (both stems and leaves for texture and nutrition), and a hint of crushed red pepper flakes, this dish is lightly coated in a luscious Parmesan-infused sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a quick and healthy option that doesn’t skimp on flavor. The addition of reserved pasta cooking water ensures a silky, restaurant-quality finish, while the Parmesan provides a rich, cheesy balance to the slight bitterness of the chard. Ideal for busy evenings, this vegetarian pasta recipe serves four and pairs wonderfully with a crisp side salad or crusty bread.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Pasta (spaghetti or penne)
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 4 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves and stems separated and chopped
- 0.5 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 1 cup Pasta cooking water (reserved)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining and set the pasta aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant and just beginning to turn golden.
Toss in the chopped Swiss chard stems and cook for 2-3 minutes to soften.
Add the Swiss chard leaves to the skillet and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the leaves wilt down.
Sprinkle in the crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to taste, and stir to combine.
Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss everything together to coat the pasta in the sauce. If needed, add more reserved cooking water a little at a time to create a light sauce.
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined.
Serve the pasta warm, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1156 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 57.7 g | 74% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.1 g | 76% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 40 mg | 13% | |
| Sodium | 3478 mg | 151% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 121.7 g | 44% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 10.4 g | 37% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.7 g | ||
| Protein | 41.1 g | 82% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 602 mg | 46% | |
| Iron | 8.5 mg | 47% | |
| Potassium | 1001 mg | 21% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
