Kale Pancetta Pasta

This Italian Kale Pancetta Pasta is healthy and flavorful! It's made with garlic, shallots, hearty greens, Asiago cheese, and lemon zest.

When it comes to fresh flavors and seasonal summer ingredients, it doesn't get any better than this Pancetta Pasta! It's made with lots of kale and brightened up with lemon zest and basil.

Pasta is a great meal to enjoy during the summer months, because it's easy to prepare, doesn't take long to cook, and can be paired with all kinds of seasonal vegetables and herbs.

It's simple enough to enjoy as a weeknight dinner, but complex enough to serve to guests at a dinner party. Pasta is perfect when you're looking for a quick dish that feels a little bit special.

This pasta dish is tossed with pancetta that's sautéed with some garlic and shallots in olive oil, along with kale or hearty greens of choice, Asiago or Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and fresh basil.

It's healthy, but slightly decadent at the same time. This is just the kind of dish I love to enjoy on a summer evening along with a glass of chilled white wine.

What Is Pancetta?

Pancetta is made from pork belly that's salt-cured and falls into a category of Italian meats known as salumi, or cured pork product.

The pork belly is salt-cured and aged along with a variety of spices. It is considered 'raw' and must be cooked before consuming.

Is Pancetta The Same As Bacon?

Pancetta is similar to bacon in that they are both made from pork belly that has been salt-cured. The main difference is that bacon is smoked after the curing process.

The smoking process is what gives bacon its distinctively smoky flavor. Both pancetta and bacon are considered 'raw' and must be cooked before eating.

The flavor of pancetta is less smoky than bacon, but still contains a good amount of fat and flavor, making it a great choice for dishes like pasta and vegetables.

I find that the smoky flavor of bacon tends to overwhelm some dishes and pancetta to be a great alternative.

Pancetta can generally be found in the deli, or specialty refrigerated foods section of your local grocery store or specialty foods store.

Feel free to substitute bacon for pancetta if you prefer.

Ingredients For Kale Pancetta Pasta

• 6 cloves Garlic
• 2 Shallots
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 3 oz. Pancetta (diced) (can sub bacon)
• 4 packed cups Kale (any variety) (or hearty greens of choice)
• 12 oz. Gluten Free Short Pasta (such as farfalle, fusilli, or penne) (use regular short pasta if not gluten free)
• ½ cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• ½ cup Asiago or Parmesan Cheese (grated)
• ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt and Pepper
• 1 Lemon
• Fresh Basil (for garnish)

What Type Of Pasta Is Best?

This recipe is gluten free and made with a gluten free short pasta, such as farfalle, fusilli, rotini, or penne.

Feel free to use any brand of short pasta if gluten is not an issue for you.

• For the best results when making gluten free pasta, make sure to cook it just until al dente. Gluten free pasta can become very mushy when overcooked.
• Once the pasta is cooked just until al dente, drain it in a strainer and rinse under cold water. This helps to stop the cooking process and helps the pasta to remain firm. Allow the cooled pasta to sit in the strainer until added to the rest of the ingredients.
• Stir the pasta only until combined with all of the other ingredients. Gluten free pasta falls apart easily and the less it's disturbed, the better.
• Make sure to use a high quality brand to ensure the best taste and texture.

I prefer to use Jovial, Tinkyada, or Barilla when making pasta dishes such as this one. The brown rice farfalle from Jovial was used to make this dish.

How To Make Pancetta Pasta

As far as pasta dishes go, this Kale Pancetta Pasta is an easy one to prepare and is ready in a little more than 30 minutes.

The pancetta is diced and sautéed in a skillet over high heat until it becomes crispy. The pancetta is then removed from the skillet and some minced garlic and shallots are sautéed in the fat that has rendered from the pancetta.

Chopped kale is added to the skillet, along with cooked pasta, some chicken broth, the cooked pancetta, Asiago cheese, and lemon zest. All of these ingredients are tossed together and garnished with fresh torn basil leaves.

1. Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic and 2 shallots.
2. Roughly chop 4 packed cups of kale, or hearty greens of choice. (Feel free to sub spinach, Swiss chard, arugula, or collards).
3. Grate ½ cup of Asiago, Parmesan, or Pecorino Romano cheese.
4. Prepare 1 12 oz. package of gluten free short pasta (or regular short pasta if not gluten free) and cook just until al dente.
5. Once the pasta is al dente, drain it in a strainer and run under cold water (this helps to stop the cooking process). This step is not necessary if using pasta that is not gluten free.
6. Dice the pancetta into small chunks if necessary (the pancetta may be purchased already diced).
7. Place a large skillet on the stove top and heat to medium-high. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to the skillet.
8. Once the oil is hot, add the diced pancetta and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. The pancetta should crisp as it cooks. Once the pancetta is cooked, remove it from the skillet, leaving the fat that has rendered.
9. Add the minced garlic and shallots to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
10. Add 4 packed cups chopped kale (or greens of choice), along with ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper (the kale will wilt down as it cooks).
11. Sauté the kale for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The kale will become slightly more tender as it cooks down.

Can I Sub Any Of These Ingredients?

The other great thing about this pasta is that it can be customized to your tastes.

• Feel free to use bacon in place of pancetta if you prefer. Simply cut the bacon into small chunks before sautéing in the skillet.
• Any hearty greens, such as spinach, Swiss chard, collards, or arugula may be used in place of kale.
• Feel free to use any variety of kale you like. Curly kale, lacinato kale, or any other variety will work in this pasta.
• Parmesan or Pecorino Romano may be used in place of Asiago cheese.
• Any variety of fresh herbs may be used in place of basil. Parsley, thyme, or oregano are all great choices.

Combine All Of The Ingredients In Skillet

Once the pasta is drained and rinsed and all of the kale has wilted a bit, it's time to combine all of the ingredients in the skillet.

1. Add the drained and rinsed pasta to the skillet, along with ½ cup of low sodium chicken broth, the cooked pancetta, ½ cup grated Asiago cheese (or cheese of choice), and the zest of 1 lemon. A Microplane, or small zester may be used to zest the lemon.
2. Stir all of the ingredients just until combined and continue to cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

What To Serve With Pancetta Pasta

I feel like pasta always benefits from fresh herbs and I love to top this one with some freshly torn basil leaves.

You can also use parsley, thyme, oregano, or a combination of these herbs as a garnish for the pasta.

Feel free to squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top for extra freshness and grate on a bit more cheese for even more flavor.

I find that salads with bright, fresh flavors complement the richness of this dish. Summer is the best time for salads, as vegetables and herbs are in season.

You can't go wrong with this Italian tomato salad, marinated green bean salad, pickled beet salad, or fresh pea mint salad.

Vegetable side dishes like Parmesan roasted cauliflower, balsamic glazed parsnips, and roasted green beans make a great pairing.

Looking for more Italian recipes? Don't miss these!

• Mushroom Shrimp Risotto
• Spinach Walnut Pesto
• Healthy Green Pasta Sauce
• Garden Vegetable Lasagna
• Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan

How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?

Any leftover pasta may be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days in an airtight container.

Allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

I do not recommend freezing this pasta, as it is best enjoyed fresh, or within a few days.

Love pasta? Check out these recipes!

• Chicken Marsala Pasta
• Chicken Sausage Spaghetti
• Leek Pancetta Pasta
• Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
• One Pot Veggie Pasta
• Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta

Looking For More Pancetta Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Linguine alla Carbonara

Peas and Pancetta

Spinach and Pancetta Quiche