Macaroni With Kale and White Beans

Submitted by SAHMchef

"This delicious vegetarian meal is packed with nutrients. If you've never tried kale, this is a good recipe to try! Kale tastes similar to spinach but retains its leafy texture. From Jeanne Lemlin's "Main Course Vegetarian Pleasures.""

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs kale
• 1⁄3 cup vegetable broth or 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 minced garlic cloves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 (16 ounce) can cannellini or (16 ounce) can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 lb macaroni
• 1⁄4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

directions

1. Cook macaroni according to directions, making sure to not overcook.
2. Rip kale off its stem into bite-sized pieces. (Be sure not to use the stem, as it is quite bitter. I've tried cutting it, but it works better to rip it).
3. Rinse kale in a large bowl of cold water and drain.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet or stockpot (you will need a lid later).
5. Add garlic and red pepper, cooking over med-high heat for about 2 minutes.
6. Stir in kale and broth and cover pan, stirring occasionally, until kale is wilted but bright green and tender, about 7 minutes.
7. Gently stir in salt, followed by beans, macaroni, and Parmesan. (Do not use canned parmesan, as it really will not taste right. Use the "real" grated parmesan!).

Reviews

[bdankanich]

I love this stuff. I have eaten the leftovers from this for my last 3 meals, and I'm still not tired of eating it. I used vegetable broth and pene pasta, and I also added an additional 1/3 cup liquid at the end to keep it from being too dry. I used the cooking water from the pasta as this liquid. Aside from that, I followed the recipe exactly and I think it has the perfect amount of seasonings.

 

[EmilyStrikesAgain]

I love this recipe. I've made it twice in the past 2 weeks. First time I misread and used 3 cups veg. broth. Result was too much liquid (used a slotted spoon to serve) but tons of flavor. Second time I used the correct amount and it wasn't as flavorful. My suggestion? 1 cup veg broth. Simple, fresh and delicious weeknight dinner!

 

[heatherhopecs]

I also used Barilla Plus Penne vs. macaroni. I liked how the beans disintegrate a little bit in the mix, making the whole dish smoother. This has a great flavor despite only using a little salt and a little oil. I've started adding a small amount of feta to the dish in addition to the parmesan. love it!

 

[sydster2]

I'm growing kale in my garden this year and also get a CSA share that sometimes delivers kale. This was a great dish that can work either as a side or as a main dish. I added a little chopped chicken and we ate it with a salad as our main dish. My husband reallly liked it - and he's quite suspicious of new dishes using unusual vegetables he assumes he doesn't like. We've made it twice now - like it with the chicken added best.

 

[Lucky in Bayview]

This was a really nice, quick and healthy meal. I was out of cannellini beans so I used kidney beans as a substitute. Not only did they work out as far as taste but they looked beautiful. After eating the first few bites, I felt like the flavors seemed a little flat so I topped my serving with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and that brightened it up just enough for me. I can see how this recipe could be really flexible as far as add-ins. Thanks for posting.