Whole Grain Pasta with Beans, Greens, and Sun-dried Tomatoes

I love the combination of beans and pasta. It is so simple and hearty. This recipe uses whole grain pasta and collard greens. It tastes so good and I feel great about eating it. It is filled with fiber and all the good stuff from the greens.

Whole Grain Pasta with Beans, Greens, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients:

8 oz whole grain pasta (I used Canestrini, which are cute little shells that were made with 100% farro)
1 tsp oil (I used the olive oil from the sun-dried tomatoes)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 bunch collard greens, cleaned and chopped
1 cup of water
1 15 oz can of white beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp dried basil
Lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of cayenne pepper

Directions:

Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions.

While the water is boiling for the noodles, heat the oil in a pan over medium-low and add the minced garlic. Let the garlic cook for a minute or so, but be careful not to let it burn as it will taste bitter.

Add the drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and let those begin to heat through. Next, add the collards and a cup of water to the pan. Stir every now and then as the collards begin to cook. When the greens are a nice bright color, add the drained beans to the pan.

At this point add the basil, cayenne pepper, and some salt and pepper. As the mixture cooks, you can smash some of the beans right into the pan. They will combine with the remaining water to make a sauce.

Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the beans and greens. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.

Serve with a dash of lemon juice because the acid really brightens the flavors. This is a trick I got from a recipe in my Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites cookbook.

For 8 servings
Nutritional info from caloriecount.about.com

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 122 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 295 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 2.0g 3%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 20mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 55.1g 18%

Dietary Fiber 12.3g 49%

Sugars 2.3g

Protein 16.8g

Vitamin A 23% • Vitamin C 19% Calcium 17% • Iron 36%

Nutrition Grade A

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet