Recipe: Creamy Chard Pasta with Leeks, Tarragon & Fresh Microgreens

Author: Carolyn Severin, Hamama Happiness Team Member

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 40 Minutes

Makes: 4-6 servings

Enjoy the creamy yet light and crispy textures of this beautiful pasta. With the chard & leeks and the panko bread & nutritional yeast on top, it’s sure to delight your palate.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch Chard (shredded & stems cut finely)
• 2 large Leeks (cleaned and chopped)
• 2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs (I chose gluten free)
• 4 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 4 Garlic Cloves (chopped thin)
• 2 cups Vegetable Broth (or any broth you prefer)
• 1 cup Coconut Cream (you can use heavy cream as well)
• 5 tbsp Vegan Butter (or regular butter)
• 2-4 fresh Thyme Sprigs (peel from stem)
• 16 oz Linguine pasta (I chose gluten free)
• 4-6 Tarragon Sprigs (fresh and to cook with)
• Garnish: Parmesan Flakes, Microgreens, Tarragon Leaves & Lemon Zest

Instructions:

1. Prepare the chard and tear the leaves off the stems, separating the leaves and stems. Thinly slice the stems and cut the leaves into small slices. Set both aside.
2. Clean the leeks and chop up into small slices. Set aside.
3. Next, melt butter into a small skillet on medium high and add in the panko bread and nutritional yeast and stir until crispy for about 5 minutes.
4. Take out a larger skillet, melt butter and add in the leeks, chard, chard stems, garlic and thyme and season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until all starts to wilt and saute.
5. Add the stock and heavy cream, and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
6. Once the mixture is simmering and thickening, add the pasta to water and cook.
7. Once the pasta is ready, stir in the cooked pasta to the vegetables and sauce and add in half of the panko, nutritional yeast mixture to give the pasta some texture.
8. Once the pasta is ready to your liking, add to a plate and add in some garnish. You will want to add in the crispy panko, nutritional yeast mix as well as some fresh tarragon leaves, microgreens and even lemon zest for an extra refreshing pop in flavor. Enjoy!