Whole Wheat Fusilli with Red Chard and Bacon in a Ricotta Dressing
I just celebrated another birthday this week. An year older, and not a bit wiser! Just like last year, it was a truly rewarding birthday and by rewarding I mean loot-wise of course. What can I say, I am a Material Girl and stuff makes me happy! Especially now that I’ve really cut back on shopping, gifts are extra special. I didn’t take a picture of all the loot like last year due to sheer laziness, but trust me, the gifts were even better this year! Well, happy birthday to me! 
Now, off to the recipe. Ever since I’ve been on the South Beach Diet, I don’t get much cravings for carbs, but I do miss my pasta. Luckily, there are so many varieties of healthy whole wheat pasta options available in stores now. This recipe uses low fat Canadian bacon and reduced fat Ricotta cheese in addition to the whole wheat pasta to keep it totally SBD friendly, and trust me it didn’t taste like health food at all. I also added a good amount of red chard, which is one of my favorite greens. I love the slightly bitter and earthy taste of the chard and the red stalks make the pasta looks pretty too.
Ingredients
- 1/2lb Whole Wheat Fusilli or any other whole wheat pasta
- 1 bunch red chard
- 4 slices Canadian Bacon
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- Red chili flakes to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup low fat milk
- 1/2 cup reduced fat Ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- Salt to taste
- Grated parmesan for garnish, optional
Method
Cut the stems of the chard and slice the stems thinly. Cut the leaves into strips.
Dice the Canadian bacon into small pieces.
In a large pan, heat a bit of the oil and saute the Canadian bacon till brown and crispy. Season well with freshly ground black pepper. Remove and keep aside.
Add a bit more oil to the same pan, and saute the garlic till soft. Add the sliced stems of the chard to the pan and mix well. Cover the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes till the stems have softened. Open the cover and add the chard leaves and mix in. Season with salt and red chili flakes, cover and let it steam for a minute or so. Add 1/4 cup low fat milk to the pan and simmer on medium heat till the leaves are cooked through and most of the milk is evaporated.
Cook the pasta according to package directions.
Beat the egg till frothy in a large bowl. Stir in the ricotta cheese and 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and mix well to combine.
As soon as the pasta is cooked, drain and add to the egg-ricotta mixture immediately. Toss well to combine. Stir in the chard and the fried bacon and toss well. Serve hot with some grated parmesan sprinkled over.
South Beach Diet Suggestion: Will work in SBD Phase 2.
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Happy Birthday Sig!! Glad to know you had a super bday even this year…I remember the pics of your gifts from last year..n wud luv 2 see your new gifts too
that’s a very different looking bowl! i haven’t seen any whole wheat pasta in stores here but guess i am not looking hard enough
I have yet to make the yogurt pesto… so this will just have to get in line.
Glad you had a great day
there was less of you this year though 
Happy Happy Birthday!
I have been a silent admirer since long….your space truly rocks….Being a harcore vegetarian I read each and every line of your every single post…that how addictive your blog is….
Good luck on SBD.
Any good vegetarian book or link on SBD? Please do suggest…I have a few pounds to knock off too…..
Rupa.
I don’t crave pasta but your pic is making me crave some, and I jjjust had a superbowlful of salad!
Happy birthday sid, you cut down on your shopping too………..
I love pasta and i must admit i eat too much carb, this looks yummy and healthy too.
Happy Birthday Sig! and have a great time with those gifts
they are the main reason you should celebrate your birthday, otherwise who likes getting older?
Happy Birthday to you Sig! Presents are bonus, enjoy. I love the Pasta dish with Bacon, yummy!!:)
Posted a Super Bowl platter, pretty bad compared to your healthy Pasta! HeHe!!
Happy Birthday Sig !! You manage to make every single thing look so good…I was with the laptop in my kitchen last evening trying to make the egg roast from your blog…Came out fab…thanks and have a great year
Sig, Happy Birthday!
Chard Greens do light up a dish.
Hey Sig
Many Many happy returns of the day…. Have a great day
btw forgot to add that its a great looking bowl of pasta, u know what I haven’t been able to drag myself into kitchen lately, Rocky has been cooking lately for us…
Belated Happy B’day , dear Sig
Belated happy birthday, dear Sig…glad to know you had a great day
We’ve started using whole wheat pasta too…and yours look delicious
Happy birthday dear Sig. Congrats on the loot
.
This pasta looks great. I will try it soon..
This is simply gorgeous! I am loving the chard and bacon!
Belated Birthday wishes Sig… That looks so hearty.. am sure i can give it a try without the bacon.
Belated birthday wishes, Sig!
Happy belated b’day sig!!!!!!
Sounds you had a blast for ur birthday holding ur SBD, great Sig
Love the bacon and green touch!
Lovely!
Belated b’day n Thats a superb click..loved that bowl..:)
Yum, I love red chard. I almost always use whole wheat pasta these days.
yum! This looks so good! We cooked with chard for the first time recently, I love it. Happy late birthday!
belated happy birthday Sig ….. hope u have a rewarding birthday always
Happy bday Sig!
yum yum yummy! nice click.
This is absolutely delicious, love the addition of bacon!
Cheers,
Elra
Happy Birthday to you, Sig
I have been a silent admirer and yes, I love ur blog. Enjoy well upto that maximum. Warm hugs from me.
Belated birthday wishes Sig!
Happy Birthday Sigma
Enjoy your loot. We came back from Kerala a few wks ago.
Happy (belated) Birthday, Sig! Seems like you had fun… No wonder, one retail chain after another is closing.
looks healthy and tempting bowl..try dding italian seasoning..its works really gud…and btw belated happy birthday
..hope u had a blast dear..
Happy Birthday Sig! those chards look very tempting:-)
happy Birthday dear Sig. And please please what was the loot this year, I remember last year’s Mini….
Happy Birthday! Have a great day.
happy birthday… the pasta looks awesome…
Wish you a very Happy Birthday Sig and hope you have a fabulous year ahead!
The pasta looks very very delicious – I tried whole wheat pasta for my husband but the taste was terrible – I need to find better quality whole wheat pasta…
Miri
love, absolutely love the pasta!
Am a little late with wishes.:)
Belated birthday wishes, Sig. Of course, we get wiser with every year.
I am always game for pasta, in a veggie version, though.
Very late here! YET..HAPPY BDAY SIG!
can see ur last yr post wtout browsing, ur loot, ur rest. snaps etc! Missing those here..wd they come up in ur next post?
would have loved to see ur birthday loot. Really…u do not get carb cravings??..i always do..no matter how long i have been on a diet…actually i crave bread and deserts like crazy…
Happy bday!
Thank you all for your wishes!
just saw this post….Happy Birthday! (belated though!) Hope you had a great day!!