1. It is delicious.
2. It is easy.
3. It uses pantry staples.
4. It's a complete balanced meal if you need it to be.
I've used it as a side-dish to fish or grilled meat. Here we are having cold grilled turkey leftover from a birthday dinner. It's great for using up scrappy pieces of kale and if the stems are not too thick, I don't even bother stemming the leaves anyway.
I'm also cooking outside on a single-burner induction cooktop to keep the steamy heat out of the house. I keep hotpads and an extension cord right in the drawer there.
I've made this in kitchens in summer vacation houses - just check first that there's a blender or something like it.
Kale-Sauce Pasta
1. In large pot of salted boiling water, blanch 1/2-1lb. kale, thick ribs removed.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup olive oil in small pan and gently over low heat cook 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped coarsely. When I can smell the delicious garlic scent and small bubbles are forming around the pieces, I pull it off the heat. Definitely do not let it brown!
3. Pour garlic oil with garlic in blender.
4. Fish kale out of water with tongs and add to blender.
5. Add 1/4 cup hot kale water. Add 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan.
6. Puree. It will be a lovely green!
7. Cook 1/2-3/4lb. pasta in the same hot kale water.
7. Cook 1/2-3/4lb. pasta in the same hot kale water.
8. Mix kale sauce and hot pasta, adding freshly ground pepper to taste, as well as more salt and Parmesan as desired.
9 comments:
Ooh, lovely! (Although, I did chuckle a bit; I have four kids, ages 13-8, and I usually have to make 2 pounds of pasta these days--ha!)
Oh my! 2 lbs of pasta is a lot! I would probably do better to make 2 lbs. pasta because there'd probably be a bit leftover and then there would be something easy to offer the kids who get hungry 2 hours after supper (sighhh).
I've made this, but it was not a hit here. However, that outdoor setup is divine and I think I need to make one like that for myself.
Is that regular 'pasta colored' pasta? Because, wow, that kale sauce really covers well!
(Also love your outdoor kitchen set up. Haven't you done some canning outside as well?)
It is whole wheat pasta, so a little browner than the regular stuff. But yeah, the sauce gloms on really well (best not to let it dry on dishes too long before washing them, haha).
Yup, I do a fair amount of cooking and canning outside on a propane burner and now the induction cooktop too.
This sounds very good! We aren't growing kale this year, but I'll have to file it away for the next time we get a bunch. That last picture is truly superb, too, with your fab outfit, vibrant pasta, and groovy gravel patio!
OH! And that is an AWESOME outdoor kitchen set up! Brilliant for summers such as these!
Thank you!
Looks great! Your backyard looks nice too! My kale is finally about ready to harvest, will try this!
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