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Penne With Sun-Dried Tomatoes And Tuscan Kale

January 2, 2023, By //  by Sonia 10 Comments

Penne With Sun-Dried Tomatoes And Tuscan Kale

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This penne with sun-dried tomatoes and Tuscan kale is an easy weeknight pasta dish bursting with fresh flavors! Sun-dried tomatoes add flavor and wonderful color, while the kale adds freshness to the dish. This vegetarian dinner is ready in just 25 minutes!

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This scrumptious combines a variety of flavors to create perfect harmony on the tongue. The sweet-tart sun-dried tomatoes, the earthy kale, the nutty Parmesan cheese, and the slightly spicy crushed red pepper flakes pair perfectly with the pasta to create a vibrant dish.

This recipe is so simple and quick to prepare it will quickly become one of your favorite weeknight recipes. 

Why this recipe works

  • This recipe is easy and quick to make – it comes together in just 25 minutes!
  • It is loaded with flavor; tangy, cheesy, rich, and irresistible.
  • It’s a great way to use up the leftover sun-dried tomatoes that have been sitting in your fridge.

Ingredients to use for this recipe

  • Penne pasta: I am using Penne pasta in this recipe, but any dried pasta shape will work.
  • Sun-dried Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes are sweet and earthy. I’m using the dried variety, but the sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil would also work. 
  • Tuscan Kale: Tuscan kale is softer and has a more subtle flavor than traditional curly kale. Use traditional kale if you can’t find the Tuscan variety.
  • Extra virgin olive oil: A staple of Mediterranean cuisines.
  • Shallot: adds a subtle onion flavor without overpowering the sun-dried tomatoes. 
  • Garlic: It brings an earthy flavor, spiciness, and complexity to this pasta dish. 
  • Butter: Butter adds richness and delicious flavor to the sauce.
  • Lemon: The lemon juice adds a fresh and bright flavor while it balances the earthy and rich flavors of the sun-dried tomatoes, kale, and parmesan cheese.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: The red pepper flakes add a bit of spice to the dish. Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your liking. 
  • Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese is a quintessential Italian cheese. It’s salty, nutty, and full of umami; flavors that are a delicious way to finish any pasta. 
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

How to make the Penne With Sun-Dried Tomatoes And Tuscan Kale

In a large pot, cook the penne, according to the time on the package directions, to al dente. Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.

Heat the olive oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium heat.

Add the olive oil, shallot, and garlic, and cook until the shallot is tender.

Add the butter, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Stir until the butter has melted. 

Add ½ cup of the pasta water and reduce the sauce. 

Add sun-dried tomatoes, chopped kale, and penne to the pan when the sauce has thickened. Toss to combine. 

If needed, add another ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water and continue to cook the pasta for a couple of minutes until the kale is slightly wilted and the sauce evenly coats the pasta.

If the pasta looks too dry, add the remaining pasta water. 

Remove the pan from the heat. Add the parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Variations 

This dish is very easy to customize. Here are some ideas:

Add a vegetarian protein by adding a can of chickpeas or cannellini beans.

Also, for a non-vegetarian diet, add some leftover roasted (or rotisserie) chicken.

Substitute spinach for the kale.

What to serve with this dish?

This recipe is the main dish but is extra delightful when served alongside a fresh salad and crusty bread.

You can also serve it as a side dish with Roasted Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon.

Notes and Cooking Tips

Reserve some of the starchy pasta water before draining. It will help you reach your desired sauce consistency. 

Make-ahead tips and Storing leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

More Pasta Recipes 

Pumpkin, Bacon, Sage, And Brown Butter Pasta

If you don’t recognize a tool or skill I mention, look it up in the Cooking Terms Glossary for more information.

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Recipe Card

Penne with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Tuscan Kale

Sonia Skounaki-Garbidakis
This penne with sun-dried tomatoes and kale is an easy weeknight pasta dish bursting with fresh flavors! Sun-dried tomatoes add flavor and wonderful color, while the kale adds freshness to the dish. This vegetarian dinner is ready in just 25 minutes!
5 from 7 votes
Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine Italian Recipes, Mediterranean Recipes
Servings 4
Calories 703 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb dried penne pasta
  • 2 tbsp extravirgin olive oil
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 2 cups Tuscan kale roughly chopped
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese grated

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook the penne to al dente, according to the time on the package directions. Before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water.
  • Heat a large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, shallot, and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the shallot is tender.
  • Add the butter, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until the butter has melted.
  • Add ½ cup of the starchy pasta water and stir for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce begins to bubble and thicken. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, kale, and penne. Toss to combine.
  • If the sauce is too thin, add another ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Continue to cook the pasta for 1-2 minutes, until the kale is barely wilted and the sauce evenly coats the pasta. Again, if the sauce becomes too dry, add the last ¼ cup of pasta water.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and add the parmesan. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Notes and Tips

  • Reserve some of the pasta starchy water before draining. It will help you reach your desired sauce consistency.
  • Tuscan kale is softer and has a more subtle flavor than traditional curly kale. Use traditional kale if you can’t find the Tuscan variety. If using traditional curly kale, remove the thick ribs.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Variations 

  • This dish is very easy to customize. Here are some ideas:
  • Add a vegetarian protein by adding a can of chickpeas or cannellini beans.
  • Also, for a non-vegetarian diet, add some leftover roasted (or rotisserie) chicken.
  • Substitute spinach for the kale.

Nutrition

Calories: 703kcalCarbohydrates: 95gProtein: 24gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 449mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8g

This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although eatmediterraneanfood.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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Related

Filed Under: Entrée - Main Course, Italian Recipes, Mediterranean Recipes, Pasta and Grains, Recipes, Vegetarian Tagged With: 30-Minute Meals, Clean Eating, Easy Recipes, Healthy, Kale, Mediterranean, mediterranean diet, Mediterranean Lifestyle, Pasta, Weeknight Dinners

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jere Cassidy

    January 13, 2023 at 9:15 am

    This pasta is so good. I was wanting pasta without all the heavy tomato sauce and this was just perfect with the sun-dried tomatoes, and I love the addition of kale.

    Reply
    • Sonia

      January 13, 2023 at 1:17 pm

      Thank you! Yes, it is much lighter taste than the usual tomato based sauces.

      Reply
  2. Sarita

    January 13, 2023 at 11:35 am

    We made this with linguine noodles instead of penne last night and it was awesome. So far it is the only way I can get my kids (and hubby) to eat kale!

    Reply
    • Sonia

      January 13, 2023 at 1:14 pm

      Thank you, Sarita! I am glad your family enjoyed this dish! Yes, you can use any type of pasta you like for this recipe.

      Reply
  3. Lisa

    January 13, 2023 at 12:18 pm

    Not only was this pasta dish a cinch to make, it had so much flavor! It’s going to be a regular on the menu from now on.

    Reply
    • Sonia

      January 14, 2023 at 11:37 am

      Thanks, Lisa! I am so glad you enjoyed it. It is one of my go-to weeknight meals too.

      Reply
  4. Nicole

    January 13, 2023 at 12:40 pm

    I cannot wait to try this! I love sun dried tomatoes. And thanks for the tip on using the Tuscan kale instead of the traditional kale!

    Reply
    • Sonia

      January 14, 2023 at 11:36 am

      Thanks, Nicole! When you make this, let me now how it was.

      Reply
  5. Sharon

    January 13, 2023 at 2:52 pm

    Used gluten free pasta and it was absolutely delicious, restaurant quality at home!

    Reply
    • Sonia

      January 14, 2023 at 11:35 am

      Thanks, Sharon! I am glad you liked it. And, yes, you can use gluten-free, or brown rice or chickpea pasta.

      Reply

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Sonia Skounaki

Ya sas (Hi)! I am Sonia! This website is my dream to do something different and share everything I learned from my Cretan grandmother and my mother, who has roots form the island of Cefallonia, along with new wisdom gained while struggling to be healthy while everything around us is not.

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