Baked Pasta With Cauliflower And Swiss Chard Food

BAKED PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large, straight-sided skillet, melt half of butter over medium-high. Add garlic, chard stems, cauliflower, and sage. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until garlic is golden, 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water; cover. Cook until cauliflower is just tender, 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in chard leaves.
• Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups water. Add remaining butter and flour to skillet; cook over medium-high, whisking, until toasted, 1 minute. Slowly whisk in pasta water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook, whisking, until mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; whisk in sour cream and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Stir in pasta and chard mixture; top with remaining cheese. Transfer to oven; bake until cheese melts, about 10 minutes. Serve.

PASTA WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the spaghetti, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, and cook for 1 minute to soften. Add the Swiss chard. Cook and stir until the stems of the chard are tender. You can use some of the hot pasta water to help steam the chard in the covered pan.
• Stir the hot spaghetti into the chard mixture along with the capers. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, and drizzle with lemon juice if desired. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to serve.

CAULIFLOWER AND SWISS CHARD GRATIN

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, add milk and cardamom pods and bring to a simmer over high heat, 2-3 minutes. As soon as milk reaches a simmer, immediately turn off heat and let steep, 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare chard for sautéing: Separate the stems from the leaves by cutting around the stems. Gather the stems together, then trim and discard the bottoms. Finely chop stems and set aside. Use a paring knife to peel away the onion skin, then cut onion in half. Remove the root end, then thinly slice into half-moons. Set aside. Peel garlic, trim the ends, then thinly slice. Place the chard stems, onion, and garlic into a heavy-bottomed pot. Add olive oil and a pinch of salt, then turn heat to high. Stir and sauté vegetables over high heat until they begin to sizzle. Turn heat to low and sweat the vegetables until they are soft and the onions are translucent, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.
• Blanch cauliflower: Cut away and discard cauliflower leaves, and trim the stems (set the stems aside for later). Slice cauliflower top into several large chunks, and cut half of the chunks into small florets. Heavily salt the boiling water ("just a little shy of ocean water"), then add the florets. When the water comes back to a simmer, continue to cook for 2 more minutes, then scoop out with a strainer or slotted spoon. The cauliflower should be slightly cooked but still al dente. Set aside. (Leave the heat on). Roughly chop the remaining cauliflower chunks and reserved stems so the pieces are about the same size; add them to the sautéed chard stems, onion, and garlic. Strain the cardamom pods from the milk, and add the milk to the sautéed vegetables. Turn heat to medium, cover, and simmer until cauliflower is very tender, 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. (If it ever seems too dry, add a bit of water.) Meanwhile, blanch chard leaves.
• Blanch chard leaves: Add another big pinch of salt to the cauliflower-blanching water (enough to make it "salty as the sea"). Add chard, bring back to a simmer, then simmer 30 seconds more. Scoop out the blanched leaves using a strainer or slotted spoon and place into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Butter the gratin dish and set aside. Finely grate the Gruyère and Parmigiano-Reggiano and set aside in separate bowls. Gently squeeze the water out of the chard leaves; then roughly chop and set aside.
• In a food processor, add the cauliflower-milk mixture. Pulse a few times so the mixture doesn't splatter, then purée on high. Transfer purée to a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped chard leaves, loosening up any clumps, and the blanched cauliflower florets; stir to combine. Let rest to cool, 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 F.
• Add half of the Gruyère to the cauliflower-chard mixture; stir to combine. Season to taste, then transfer to the prepared gratin dish. Level the surface with a spatula, then evenly top with remaining Gruyère and all of the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Cover with foil and bake, 30 minutes. (Note: Gratin can be assembled to this point up to 2 days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. Remove 2 hours before baking so it can come to room temperature.)
• After 30 minutes, remove foil and place under the broiler for 4-5 minutes, rotating the dish halfway through. (Keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn!) Remove from oven, let rest 5 minutes, then serve.

SPAGHETTI AND SWISS CHARD WITH GARLIC CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook garlic, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer garlic with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Cook onion in oil remaining in skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add currants and cook, stirring, until plumped, about 1 minute.
• Stir chard stems into onion mixture with water and 3/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook, covered, over medium-high heat until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in chard leaves and cook, covered, until stems and leaves are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 5 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta-cooking water and drain spaghetti.
• Toss spaghetti with chard, olives, and 1/2 cup cooking water, adding more cooking water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with feta and garlic chips.

ROASTED SWISS CHARD WITH FETA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with olive oil.
• Toss the chard stems and onions in a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and spread onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chard stems have softened and the onion is starting to brown on the corners, about 15 minutes. Toss the chard leaves with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Sprinkle the leaves over the stem mixture, then scatter the feta cheese over top.
• Return to the oven, and bake until the stems are tender, the leaves are beginning to crisp, and the feta is melted and golden, about 20 minutes.

BAKED PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER AND CHEESE

Steps:

• To prepare the Bechamel sauce, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking or stirring constantly, until a smooth pasteis formed. Add the heated milk slowly, a cup at a time, continuing to whisk until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and let the sauce thicken further on low heat. Remove from heat and cover.
• Saute the onions, garlic, and basil in oil. When the onions are translucent, add the cauliflower and saute for 5 minutes or more. Add the tomatoes and simmer until the cauliflower is tender.
• Cook the pasta al dente and then drain.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the Sauteed vegetables, and the lemon juice. Mix in the Bechamel sauce. Put half of the pasta mixture in an oiled baking dish. Sprinkle on half of each of the cheeses. Add the rest of the pasta mixture and then the rest of the cheese. Top with seasoned bread crumbs and bake covered at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes and then uncovered for about 15 minutes or until bubbling and golden on top

PASTA WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, except omit any oil or salt. Drain. Return pasta to saucepan; cover and keep warm.
• Cut out and discard center ribs from Swiss chard or remove stems from spinach.
• Coarsely chop greens; set aside.
• In a large nonstick skillet cook garlic in hot oil over medium heat for 15 seconds. Add greens. Cook over medium-low heat about 3 minutes or until greens are wilted, stirring frequently.
• Stir in ricotta cheese, milk, basil, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cook and stir for 3 to 5 minutes more or until heated through.
• Add the ricotta mixture and tomato to cooked pasta; toss gently to combine. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH BEANS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Remove and discard the stems and thicker midribs from the Swiss chard leaves. Rinse the leaves well, then drain and coarsely chop them.
• Cook the pasta in plenty of rapidly simmering water until al dente, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in an extra-large saucepan or stir-fry pan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté over medium-low heat until the onion is golden.
• Add the wine and Swiss chard. Cover and cook just until the chard wilts, stirring once or twice, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes, beans, and raisins. Cook just until everything is heated through, another 4 to 5 minutes.
• Combine the fettuccine with the Swiss chard mixture in a large serving bowl. Toss well, season with salt and pepper, and toss again.
• Menu Suggestions
• I love this dish with cauliflower; two companionable possibilities are Cauliflower with Bread Crumbs (page 206) and Sautéed Cauliflower with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Basil (page 198). Add a salad of greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives.
• Another good way to complete the meal is with some crusty bread and a dairy-free version of the traditional insalata caprese (tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad). Arrange a platter of flavorful tomato slices overlapping thin slices of vegan mozzarella; sprinkle generously with sliced basil leaves and drizzle everything with good olive oil.
• nutrition information
• Calories: 310
• Total Fat: 6g
• Protein: 11g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Fiber: 7g
• Sodium: 565mg

CAULIFLOWER, SWISS CHARD, AND CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a 4-quart heavy saucepan cook onion and caraway seeds in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until onion is softened.
• Add broth and water and bring to a boil. Stir in cauliflower and orzo and simmer, stirring occasionally, 7 minutes.
• Stir in chicken and Swiss chard and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Season soup with salt and pepper. Soup may be made 3 days ahead, cooled, uncovered, and chilled, covered.

PENNE WITH SWISS CHARD AND CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet, add the onion and cook over medium heat until golden and beginning to brown, about 15 minutes.
• Once water is boiling, add cauliflower and some salt, and cook for 3 minutes. Remove cauliflower with a slotted spoon and set aside. Set aside 1/2 cup of the water.
• Add the penne to the boiling water, stir it and let it cook for about 8 minutes, until al dente.
• While the penne is cooking, add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly browned; then, add the Swiss chard and cook, stirring, until it wilts, another 3 minutes or so. Stir in the cauliflower and reserved cooking liquid and the red pepper. Season with salt.
• When the penne is done, drain it, add it to the skillet and toss with the vegetables over low heat. Serve at once, dusted with cheese.