I’m a huge fan of “cooking out of your pantry”—the concept of making simple, rustic meals out of seasonal, local foods and shelf-stable ingredients that you keep on hand. This is the way people have been cooking for centuries, before the advent of supermarkets and cookbooks. It’s the concept of “making something out of nothing”, yet these are some of the best dishes on the planet. A great way to employ this strategy is with veggie lasagna, like this Swiss Chard Pecan Lasagna. You can take any seasonal vegetable and layer it with noodles, a fragrant tomato herb sauce, nuts, and cheese (plant-based for vegans). So, why don’t you try cooking out of your pantry today? I show-cased a bunch of swiss chard from my garden in this recipe. Swiss chard is one of the easiest things to grow in your garden, and it survives in cooler as well as warmer weather. Use this simple Swiss Chard Pecan Lasagna recipe for inspiration to cook out of your pantry. Based on primarily pantry ingredients, you can enjoy this delicious meal any night of the week. If you don’t have swiss chard, simply swap it out for other leafy greens you have on hand, too—such as spinach, kale, or collards.

Watch this video below on Sharon Palmer’s favorite ways to use this nutrient-rich vegetable in your diet.

 

Yield: 6 servings

Swiss Chard Pecan Lasagna

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Based on pantry staples and fresh chard, this easy, hearty recipe for Swiss Chard Pecan Lasagna is a nutritious recipe that your whole family will love. Plus it’s 100% plant-based (vegan).

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning blend
• Pinch black pepper
• Pinch sea salt (optional)
• 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, with liquid
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cup water
• 1 ¼ cups finely chopped pecans, divided
• 8 sheets lasagna noodles (look for whole grain), dry
• 1 bunch Swiss chard, sliced
• 1 cup plant-based cheese, shredded

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan.
2. Sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 8 minutes.
3. Add Italian seasoning, black pepper, and sea salt (if desired), stirring well.
4. Add diced tomatoes with liquid, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and 1 cup of the pecans. Stir sauce well and heat for 3 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350 F.
6. Layer the following ingredients in a 13 X 9-inch baking dish, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray: 4 sheets of dry lasagna noodles; Half of the chard; Half of the tomato vegetable mixture; Half of the cheese. Repeat the layers so that there are two layers.
7. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
8. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup pecans, and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.
9. Remove from oven, slice into squares, and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 380Total Fat: 22 gSaturated Fat: 4 gSodium: 230 mgCarbohydrates: 44 gFiber: 9 gSugar: 7 gProtein: 9 g