Pasta With Kale & Fennel

2022 Week 5 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from A Beautiful Plate

Fast, easy, and flavorful- try pairing this dish with Hasselback zukes as a side!

2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ large red onion thinly sliced

1 bunch baby fennel, fronds reserved, thinly sliced

3 large garlic cloves finely slivered

2-3 large pinches red pepper flakes

1 large bunch of lacinato kale tough stems discard and leaves roughly chopped

juice of one lemon

10 ounces spinach fettuccine

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Garnishes:

grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

fennel fronds

chili pepper oil optional

Put a large pot of well-salted water on to boil. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over low heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 5 minutes, or until the onions are beginning to soften.

Turn up the heat to medium, add the sliced fennel, and saute gently for an additional 6 to 8 minutes or until the fennel is tender and slightly caramelized. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another minute or two. Turn off the heat.

When the fennel is almost cooked, add the pasta to the pan of boiling water and cook until al dente, adding the kale to the pasta pot about 2 to 3 minutes before the pasta is done cooking.

Drain the pasta (reserving ½ cup of the starchy cooking water) and greens thoroughly and toss with the onion and fennel mixture in the pan - adding pasta water if necessary. Add the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

Drizzle each serving with chile oil, fennel fronds, and lots of grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese.