Pasta with Tomato Sauce, Chard and Goat Cheese
Pasta with Tomato Sauce, Chard and Goat Cheese
This tomatoey version of macaroni and cheese is a great way to use greens or other vegetables.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups tomato sauce, made with fresh or canned tomatoes (see Plum Tomato Sauce Recipe in packet)
- Salt
- 1 pound Swiss chard (or other greens), stemmed and washed
- 12 ounces penne rigata
- 3 ounces soft, mild goat cheese (about 3/4 cup)
- 1 1/2 ounces (about 1/3 cup) freshly grated Parmesan
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Begin heating a large pot of water for the chard and pasta. Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce. When it’s done, transfer to a large bowl, and stir in the goat cheese. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin with olive oil.
Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water in the pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add the Swiss chard. Blanch for one to two minutes, then transfer to the ice water and drain (save pasta water). Squeeze out excess water, and chop fine. Add to the bowl with the tomato sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Bring the water back to a boil, and add the pasta. Cook the pasta for a minute less than the instructions on the package indicate. It should still be a little underdone, as it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain, and transfer to the bowl with the tomato sauce and chard. Add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, and stir together until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the sauce. Transfer to the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top, and drizzle on the olive oil.
Bake in the preheated oven until the casserole is bubbly and the top just beginning to color, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
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