Healthy Dinners: Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Swiss Chard & Pecorino Cheese

Here is a healthy, vegetarian dinner option for those of you trying to keep to your New Year’s resolutions.

I was a little skeptical of this recipe but then I read the reviews on the Food Network site and they were all raves!  The sauce really comes together beautifully.  There is a great blend of flavors from the chard, tomatoes, olives, and pecorino.  I used a combo of red and green chard and bought a wedge of nice pecorino which I grated myself.

The pasta was delicious and quite healthy with the whole wheat spaghetti and plethora of leafy greens.  I’ll be making this dish again!

Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Swiss Chard and Pecorino Cheese
Giada de Laurentiis

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 2 bunches Swiss chard, trimmed and chopped (about 14 cups)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper
• 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Pecorino cheese
• 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the chard and saute until it wilts, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, wine, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down and the chard is very tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Season the chard mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring frequently, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the spaghetti. Add the spaghetti to the chard mixture and toss to combine.

Transfer the pasta to serving bowls. Sprinkle the olives, cheese, and pine nuts and serve.