Pasta & beans??? Sounds weird…but yes! It’s actually a great combo! If you do a quick internet search, you’ll find quite a few different recipe ideas worth trying. Here’s a quick recipe that I pulled together the other night. Feel free to try as is…or riff your own version!
Ingredients
- Pasta of any kind (I used penne)
- Kale, tough stems removed, leaves chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 can white beans of any kind (small white or cannelloni), reserve a bit of the liquid
- 1/2 of an onion, diced
- Red pepper flakes, a pinch
- Garlic (lots of it), minced
- Olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Parmesan
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add onion & cook until softened & translucent. Add kale & cook until kale has softened & wilted. To help the kale cook, add a bit of bean liquid & cover to gently steam. Add garlic & red pepper flakes, sauté for 1-2 min. If pan is too dry, add a bit of pasta water. Add the beans & continue cooking until warmed through, about 1-2 min. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Drain pasta & reserve a bit of cooking water. Add additional pasta water to bean mixture if needed to make a “sauce”.
Plate pasta, top with bean sauce & grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Photo Cred: Pasta with White Beans and Kale (Gluten Free!) ~ Veggie Inspired