From above, a shallow bowl of glossy tagliatelle twirled into a loose nest, streaked with emerald chard ribbons and ruby chard stems, finished with golden walnut crumble, tiny lemon zest threads, black pepper, and a light shower of grated cheese over a warm ivory plate.

Brown Butter Chard Tagliatelle with Miso-Walnut Crunch

Category Main Course
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Style American
Technique Boiling
Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: March 30, 2026

This pasta leans into early-spring American flavors with a less-predictable, restauranty twist: silky ribbons of chard, sweet shallots, browned butter, toasted walnuts, lemon, and a spoonful of white miso for savory depth. The result is cozy enough for a slightly cool day but bright and green enough to feel seasonal, with glossy noodles and jewel-toned stems that photograph beautifully.

Ingredients (for 2)

Preparation

  1. Step 1 - πŸ’§πŸ«•πŸ₯¬
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Separate the chard stems from the leaves, thinly slice the stems, and cut the leaves into ribbons.
  2. Step 2 - 🌰🍳✨
    Heat a large skillet over medium heat and toast the walnuts for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and lightly browned. Transfer to a small bowl.
  3. Step 3 - πŸ§ˆπŸ§„πŸŒΆοΈ
    In the same skillet, melt the butter and cook until deep golden and nutty. Stir in the white miso until smooth, then add the olive oil, shallot, chard stems, and red pepper flakes.
  4. Step 4 - πŸ§…πŸ₯„⏱️
    Cook for about 3 minutes until the shallot softens and the chard stems are glossy. Add the grated garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
  5. Step 5 - πŸπŸ’¦βŒ›
    Add the tagliatelle or fettuccine to the boiling water and cook until just shy of al dente. Reserve at least 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
  6. Step 6 - πŸ₯¬πŸ‹πŸ”₯
    Add the chard leaves to the skillet and toss for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
  7. Step 7 - πŸπŸ§€πŸ₯£
    Add the drained pasta to the skillet with 1/3 cup reserved pasta water and the grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan. Toss over low heat until the sauce is glossy and coats the noodles, adding more pasta water if needed.
  8. Step 8 - πŸŒ°βœ‚οΈπŸ§‚
    Stir in half of the toasted walnuts and half of the chopped chives. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  9. Step 9 - πŸ½οΈπŸŒΏπŸ–€
    Divide the pasta into bowls and top with the remaining walnuts, remaining chives, extra cheese, and a final crack of black pepper.

Additional

For even more spring character, add a handful of thawed peas with the chard leaves. If you want extra richness, top each bowl with a jammy egg. For the best Instagram moment, use rainbow chard so the stems bring pops of magenta, gold, and pink against the glossy noodles.