Sautéed Kale With Beans & Pancetta


We enjoy greens of every description, and are lucky enough to have wide variety of fresh, organic greens available at our local Farmer’s Market every Saturday. It is always difficult trying to decide which greens I will buy each week and I constantly find that I buy too many, filling up my refrigerator with bags full of fresh greens.

I use my greens in soups and stews, as well as sautéed, sometimes alone, while other times I mix the greens with other vegetables. One of our favorite is kale, and our local market carries a number of different varieties of kale. I generally always pick up a bunch of Lacinato, or Tuscan Kale, as I love it’s tender texture and almost sweet flavor. Compared to other varieties of kale, it is more delicate in flavor and works well in everything from raw in salads or cooked in soups.

I often sauté our green just with sliced garlic and red chili peppers, sometimes I add tomatoes, sometimes white beans, and sometimes both beans and tomatoes. This week I pulled a can of garbanzo beans from the pantry, and added them to the kale after I sautéed it with diced onions, pancetta, and chili peppers. This side dish is great with any roasted or grilled meats, but I particularly love serving it with roasted sausages and potatoes.

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 

Sautéed Kale With Beans & Pancetta

Sautéed Kale With Beans & Pancetta

Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Greens prepared in this rustic manner are delicious served with grilled or roasted meats.

Ingredients

  • 1 Large Bunch Of Kale (See Notes Above), washed, Dried & Sliced
  • 1/2 Cup Diced Onion
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, Peeled & Thinly Sliced
  • 1/3 Cup Diced Pancetta
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 Small Red Hot Chili Pepper, Minced, or Red Pepper Flakes To Taste
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1 Can White Beans (Cannellini or Garbanzo Beans), Drained & Rinsed

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, heat the oil and cook the onions and pancetta until the onions are translucent, and the pancetta is beginning to brown.
  2. Add the garlic and chili pepper, and cook for another minute or two.
  3. Add the kale and stir well to coat with the oil mixture.
  4. Cook over medium low heat, stirring often, until the kale is tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.
  5. Season with salt and pepper, and add the beans, and cook until the beans are heated through, about 5 minutes.
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 372Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 452mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 10gSugar: 5gProtein: 14g

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3 Comments

  1. I have been following your blog for a while now, and I have to say you just have such a gift for making things appealing, and for combining ingredients that I never would have thought of — but when I read about them, it seems so obvious! I mean that in the greatest possible way. I also appreciate how much I have learned just about cooking and choosing produce from reading your blog. Thank you!

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