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Spaghetti with Braised Kale

SONY DSC
SONY DSC

I feel like a better person already.

So yes, we’re cleaning out the fridge to take off to Jasper for a week for Christmas in November, a week if eating, drinking and being merry like no other. I CAN’T WAIT.

One thing that had to go was a big bunch of kale. I had seen something, somewhere, made with kale that made me want to eat it. Where was that? Wading through torn-out magazine pages (which are scattered through my house like – I fear I’ll decades from now become a spinster with a house full of torn-out recipes instead of cats) I spent a couple days scrolling through my memory to try and retrieve the file. Fortunately, the world-wide inter-web makes a fine filing system, and if I can at least trigger the memory of which publication it was in (I knew it was Molly, and she has a new column in Bon Appétit – the first I flip to), I can look it up. Bingo.

Spaghetti with Braised Kale

AuthorJulie

Yields1 Serving

1/2 lb. spaghetti
canola or olive oil, for cooking with
1 large onion, chopped
1 head of garlic, cloves peeled and chopped
1 large bunch of kale
a squeeze of lemon juice
grated Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper

1

Put a big pot of water on to boil, and cook the spaghetti. Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a heavy skillet and saute the onion for about 5 minutes, until golden. Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes.

2

Rinse the kale, pull out the tough ribs and coarsely chop or tear apart; add another drizzle of oil and then the kale to the onions and garlic. Add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water, straight from the pot, to the pan as well. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes, until tender.

3

Drain the spaghetti, reserving a bit of the cooking liquid. Add the spaghetti to the kale mixture. Add lemon juice and a few spoonfuls of the reserved cooking liquid; toss to combine, adding a handful of Parmesan cheese and more liquid by tablespoonfuls if it's too dry.

4

Serve immediately.

Category,

Ingredients

 1/2 lb. spaghetti
 canola or olive oil, for cooking with
 1 large onion, chopped
 1 head of garlic, cloves peeled and chopped
 1 large bunch of kale
 a squeeze of lemon juice
 grated Parmesan cheese
 salt & pepper

Directions

1

Put a big pot of water on to boil, and cook the spaghetti. Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a heavy skillet and saute the onion for about 5 minutes, until golden. Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes.

2

Rinse the kale, pull out the tough ribs and coarsely chop or tear apart; add another drizzle of oil and then the kale to the onions and garlic. Add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water, straight from the pot, to the pan as well. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes, until tender.

3

Drain the spaghetti, reserving a bit of the cooking liquid. Add the spaghetti to the kale mixture. Add lemon juice and a few spoonfuls of the reserved cooking liquid; toss to combine, adding a handful of Parmesan cheese and more liquid by tablespoonfuls if it's too dry.

4

Serve immediately.

Spaghetti with Braised Kale

W maturely dined on plain pasta drizzled with good olive oil and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt. Snif.

Next time I’m starting out with bacon.

One Year Ago: Beef Tenderloin Panini

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24 comments on “Spaghetti with Braised Kale

  1. Elaine
    November 4, 2009 at 1:54 am

    I’m so jealous of this Christmas in November stuff. We Americans must make do with late nights filled with homemade pizza and internet viewings of 21 Jump Street.

  2. Allie
    November 4, 2009 at 5:58 am

    Oh, I’ve been wanting to make this one too… looks great!

  3. Kate
    November 4, 2009 at 6:29 am

    We’ll miss you, but have a great time in Jasper with your loved ones. You’re not posting then are you? Hope not/hope so…. nah, hope not. Enjoy!!!
    I, too, have a bunch of kale wanting attention… dinner is decided. Thanks!

  4. Pat from Ontario
    November 4, 2009 at 6:54 am

    Hi, Julie,
    I was pleasantly surprised to see that “It’s Just Food” is on in Windsor at 9-10 M-F! I “DVR” it, so I can watch it anytime. Yippee!
    Enjoy your week in Jasper. We’ll be here waiting to hear how it went.

  5. JulieVR
    November 4, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Kate – but of COURSE I’ll be posting from Jasper! So many interesting things to post! And I have my new little MacBook to make life easier.

  6. erin
    November 4, 2009 at 8:14 am

    Julie, Have a wonderful week in Jasper. I am trying not to cry with jealousy right now – Christmas in November, and I noticed your last comment on your last post about introducing AB. How cool is that?

  7. Rachel
    November 4, 2009 at 8:29 am

    I’ve had my eye on this one as well, but I just used my kale last night. I subbed it for chard in the roasted chickpeas with garlic and chard. Oh my…I probably popped 10 or 15 chickpeas into my mouth while cooking the kale. I squeezed half a lemon over everything at the end, and it was beautiful. Thanks, Julie!

  8. Mixing Bowl Mama
    November 4, 2009 at 8:45 am

    Christmas in November sounds so much fun! I have never heard of it before but now want to go. Have a great time.

  9. pauline
    November 4, 2009 at 8:50 am

    Counting sleeps now till we leave on sunday for Christmas in November. This is my 5th time and we always have a blast, sooo much fun. I will for sure say hi Julie. Where also taking your class you always have me in stitches you are so much fun.

  10. Debbie
    November 4, 2009 at 9:43 am

    This looks so yummy. I finally got a round to trying the kale “chips” the other day, and have been converted. This one will be next up!

  11. Jessica
    November 4, 2009 at 10:05 am

    I’ve made something similar to this a couple times now – can’t remember where it came from. You saute sausage with the onions, and then add the kale, and it used corkscrew pasta. So good! I’ve also been meaning to email you my pumpkin pecan pie recipe (pronounced pumpkin p’kahn pie because we’re from the South!), after reading of your dislike for plain ole’ pumpkin pie. :o) Do you have a recipe for that already? Have a great time in Jasper – sounds wonderful.

  12. Diana
    November 4, 2009 at 10:24 am

    Have a great time Julie. Unfortunately I am going the following weekend so I won’t see you, but I will be seeing one of your favorites, Elizabeth Baird. I look forward to your posts so I know what to try at the first nights reception. I think I like that the best (other than the seminars).

  13. Lana in South Mountain (ON)
    November 4, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Have a safe and wonderful trip to Jasper, Julie. Can’t wait to see the posts from there.

  14. Maureen
    November 4, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Sounds like a lovely event but way out of the price range of us plebes unfortunately.

  15. Barb
    November 4, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Can’t believe it’s been a year since the last Christmas in November already. I know it will be awesome. Enjoy.

  16. Judy
    November 4, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    beautiful! I’ve never tried kale before, but if I were to substitute with spinach I think me and the dish are going to have a good time. lol.

  17. Christina
    November 4, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    Looks delicious!! Making me hungry before bed!!! Christmas in November sounds so amazing! My birthday is November 13th and I was REALLY hoping to incorporate Christmas in November. I guess it won’t work this year but here’s hoping for next!! Now, if only I could get my husband and/or Mom to read what I’ve written here!! Ha ha!

  18. Stacy
    November 4, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Too funny, this is basically what I threw together for dinner except I used beet greens instead of kale. I didn’t even see Molly’s recipe!

    This is my favorite kale recipe ever which even my husband will eat.

  19. Robyn in Mountain (Ontario that is)
    November 5, 2009 at 7:32 am

    Kale eh? Okay, I’ll give it a try. We go through tons of spinach, but I’ve never picked up kale. I’m sure it will go wonderfully with organic brown rice pasta 🙂 Have a great trip, Julie! And hello to Lana, my neighbour in South Mountain. It’s a small world after all!

  20. Wendy
    November 17, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    This is *excellent.* The garlic? Do not leave out the garlic. My mom-in-law left out the garlic and the whole recipe fell into “Meh,” territory. Otherwise: This is easy-peasy, good for you, and a great way to use sturdy, nutritious dark greens.

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