Whole-Wheat Pasta Shells with Spicy Tomato Pesto and Winter Greens

Whole-wheat pastas have a firmer, chewier texture than white-flour pastas, and a robust flavor that stands up well to strong-flavored olive oil-based sauces or pestos.

Yield: Serves 5 (serving size: 2 cups)

Ingredients

• Pesto:
• 1  cup  boiling water
• 1/2  cup  sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil
• 1/4  cup  sliced almonds
• 1/4  cup  (1 ounce) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh basil
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  crushed red pepper
• 1 1/2  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
• 
  Greens:
• 1  tablespoon  olive oil
• 1  cup  chopped onion
• 3  cups  trimmed Swiss chard, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
• 1/4  cup  water
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  black pepper
• 
  Pasta:
• 8  cups  hot cooked (about 4 cups uncooked) whole-wheat pasta shells
• 4  teaspoons  grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

To prepare pesto, combine boiling water and sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl; let stand 30 minutes or until soft. Drain tomatoes in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/2 cup liquid.

Drop tomatoes, almonds, cheese, basil, and garlic through food chute with food processor on; process until minced. Keeping processor on, add salt and red pepper. Slowly pour 1 1/2 tablespoons oil through food chute; process until well-blended, scraping sides. Add reserved soaking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture appears smooth. Set aside.

To prepare greens, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook 10 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add Swiss chard; stir-fry 1 minute or until leaves turn bright green. Add water, salt, and pepper; cover and cook 2 minutes.

Combine pesto and hot cooked pasta in a large bowl; toss well. Add greens mixture; toss well. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

355

Fat:

12.4g (sat 2.6g,mono 7.1g,poly 1.6g)

Cholesterol:

5mg

Protein:

14.3g

Carbohydrate:

51.9g

Fiber:

6.6g

Iron:

2.9mg

Sodium:

608mg

Calcium:

147mg