Spaghetti with Garlicky Greens

This quick and healthy weeknight supper has few ingredients but is surprisingly tasty. The confetti cut strips of swiss chard and kale blend in well with the spaghetti to make it easy to get a good bite. Cut and wash the greens while the pasta is cooking and this dish will come together in about 20 minutes. Omit the cheese and add some extra salt for a vegan version.




Spaghetti With Garlicky Greens
Adapted from Williams Sonoma's Healthy in a Hurry

INGREDIENTS:
Sea salt, to taste, plus 1/4 tsp.
1 pound whole-wheat or regular spaghetti
1 bunch (about 1/2 lb.) red or green chard
1 bunch (about 1/2 lb.) dinosaur (lacinato) kale or regular kale
3 Tbs. olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (optional)
Juice of half a lemon

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: Cut 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 large bowl and rinse under cold running water several times. Lift the greens out of the water and place them in a colander.

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, lemon juice, 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. Serves 6.