Pasta with Swiss Chard

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

This is a colorful, delicious pasta dinner with a healthy dose of Swiss chard.

Ingredients

  • Coarse salt and ground pepper

  • 1 small garlic clove

  • 1 slice white sandwich bread, torn into large pieces

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • 12 ounces gemelli, fusilli, or other short twisted pasta

  • 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced

  • 2 bunches green Swiss chard (about 1 ½ pounds total), stalks cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces, leaves torn into 2-inch pieces (keep stalks and leaves separate)

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse garlic until finely chopped. Add bread and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Pulse until coarse crumbs form. In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add crumbs and cook, tossing, until browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer crumbs to a bowl, and set aside; wipe skillet clean.

  2. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserving 1 cup pasta water, drain pasta, and return to pot. Set aside.

  3. While pasta is cooking, melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add chard stalks and 1/2 cup pasta water; cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add leaves, and cook until tender, 4 to 6 minutes more. Stir in vinegar.

  4. Add chard mixture and remaining tablespoon butter to pasta. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Thin with pasta water, if desired. Serve topped with breadcrumbs and additional Parmesan.

Cook's Notes

It's best to use green Swiss chard in this recipe; the red variety will turn the pasta pink.

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