• Prep Time: NA
  • Cooking Time: NA
  • Serves: 4 - 6

Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Fried Kale

Category: Salads, Pasta

 Ingredients List

  • 8 oz. Garofalo Whole Wheat Fusilli, or other whole wheat pasta of your choice
  • 1 tsp. salt (for pasta cooking water)
  • 6-8 oz. kale leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 T olive oil (for stir-frying the kale)
  • 1 cup cherry tomato halves
  • 1 can (6 oz.) black olives, drained and cut in half
  • 1/4 cup crumbled Feta
  • Dressing Ingredients:
  • 1 T fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 T white balsamic vinegar, or other mild white vinegar
  • 2-3 T pesto (I used my Basil Pesto with Lemon)
  • 2 T olive oil

 Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta, stir, and reduce heat to a low boil and cook for exactly 11 minutes (or according to package directions if you're using a different type of pasta.) Drain pasta into a colander placed in the sink and let it drain well.

While the pasta cooks, chop up the kale leaves (cutting away the inner ribs if they're large), and wash kale in a salad spinner if needed. Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan with high sides, add the kale all at once, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the kale has wilted and is starting to get tender. (It should still be a little chewy but not raw tasting.) Turn off pan and let the kale cool.

Mix together the fresh-squeezed lemon juice, white balsamic vinegar, and pesto, then whisk in the olive oil to make the dressing. (Start with 2 T pesto and then taste to see if you'd like to add the other tablespoon for more pesto flavor.)

When the pasta has drained well but is still warm, transfer it to a bowl and stir in about half the dressing. Let the pasta sit while you cut cherry tomatoes and olives and crumble the feta.

Stir the cooled kale into the pasta in the bowl. Add the tomatoes and olives and gently combine; then add more dressing as desired (depending on how moist you like your salads.) If you don't use all the dressing save it for drizzling over tomatoes or to perk up any leftover salad. Gently stir in the crumbled Feta, season salad to taste with salt and fresh-ground black pepper, and serve.

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