Pasta With Braised Fennel Chard And Balsamic Vinegar Recipes

PASTA WITH BRAISED FENNEL, CHARD, AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat in large skillet.
• Add onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt and sauté (uncovered) over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in sliced fennel bulb and garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add 3/4 cup water and bring to simmer.
• Partially cover and simmer over medium-low heat until fennel is tender and liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar, partially cover, and simmer to blend flavors, about 1 minute longer.
• Add crushed red pepper flakes and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot.
• Add 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and pasta; return to boil.
• After 3 minutes, add chard and return to rapid boil; continue to cook, covered, until pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Drain pasta and greens, reserving 1/3 cup pasta cooking water.
• Toss pasta and greens with fennel mixture, cheese, and two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, adding reserved pasta water as needed if mixture is dry.
• Transfer portions to warm pasta bowls.
• Garnish with reserved minced fennel fronds.
• Serve immediately with more cheese passed separately.

BRAISED SPRING ONIONS, FENNEL AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Toss in the smashed garlic and crushed red pepper and bring the pan to a medium heat. When the garlic becomes golden brown and very aromatic, remove it from the pan and discard it. It has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the onions, fennel and Swiss chard stems, stir to coat with the oil and season with salt, to taste. Stir in the white wine and the lemon zest and juice. Cover and cook over medium heat until the veggies have become soft and wilted but still maintain some texture, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the lid and cook until most of the liquid has reduced, another 3 to 4 minutes. Toss in the Swiss chard leaves, stir to combine and season with salt, to taste. When the leaves have wilted but still look vibrantly green, taste for seasoning. Reseason if needed (it probably will). Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.
• It's spring greens!

ROMAN-STYLE BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, melt butter over medium. Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add oil and garlic, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add fennel, wine, lemon juice, oregano, parsley and 1½ cups of water, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high, stirring to evenly coat the fennel in the liquid. Arrange the fennel in an even layer.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium and braise until fennel is tender, about 30 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through.
• Transfer fennel to a serving platter, and spoon over the shallots and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.