Swiss Chard Recipes

Theres really no secret to making excellent sautéed greens: just good olive oil, salt, loads of garlic and a jolt of red pepper flakes. This method works with pretty much any green too — broccoli, broccoli rabe, kale, spinach, collards, brussels sprouts or green beans — so youve really no excuse not to get your daily dose of vegetables. Serve it as a side to any roasted or grilled meat, or over a mound of creamy polenta thats been crowned with a fried egg.

swiss chard recipes

Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chard stems and cook for about 2 minutes, or until they start to soften. Then, add the leaves, some sliced garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook until the leaves wilt, about another 2 minutes. Finally, season and serve.

Simple Sautéed Swiss Chard

swiss chard recipes

Simple Sautéed Swiss Chard with onions, garlic and a splash of balsamic vinegar. It is a healthy low calorie side dish that’s perfect for beginners!

Prep: 10min

Total: 20min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 2/3 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 2/3 cup, calories 80 calories, Sugar 5 g, Fat 5 g, Carbohydrate 9 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 2 g

Ingredients:

  • 2 large bunches Swiss chard, or rainbow chard
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • pinch each dry thyme and nutmeg
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, optional

Instruction:

  1. Stack several pieces of Swiss chard on work surface. Remove stems and set aside. Roughly cut leaves into pieces about 2-inch square. Repeat with the remaining swiss chard. Transfer the chopped leaves to a salad spinner filled with water. Drain, repeat washing if necessary, and spin dry. Rinse and chop the Swiss chard stems (about the same size as the diced onion.)
  2. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add chopped chard stems, garlic, onion, salt, thyme, nutmeg and pepper and cook, stirring often until the onions are starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes.
  3. Add chopped cleaned Swiss chard leaves, 2 tablespoons water and cover. Let wilt, 2 to 4 minutes.
  4. Remove lid and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until the Swiss chard is completely wilted and softened, 1 to 3 minutes.
  5. Remove from the heat and drizzle with balsamic vinegar if using. Serve hot.

Sauteed Swiss Chard

swiss chard recipes

Make chard taste incredible with this Swiss chard recipe! Amp the flavors in this easy side dish by adding pine nuts and Parmesan.

Prep: 5min

Total: 10min

Yield: 4

Nutrition Facts: servingSize None, calories 80 calories, Sugar 1 g, Sodium 326.9 mg, Fat 7.3 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 3.9 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 1.7 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch (12 ounces) Swiss chard or rainbow chard
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)

Instruction:

  1. Wash and dry the chard leaves. Remove the stems and roughly chop the chard (follow the instructions in How to Cut Kale). If you’d like, thinly slice the tender part of the stems and add that to the mix (discard the large tough parts of the stems; or you can discard the stems entirely).
  2. Smash and peel the garlic cloves.
  3. Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the smashed garlic and chard and cook for 4 minutes, stirring frequently until wilted and bright green.
  4. Remove from the heat and add the kosher salt, red pepper flakes. and several grinds of fresh ground pepper.
  5. Discard the garlic cloves and serve immediately. If desired, serve with shredded Parmesan and toasted pine nuts.

How to Cook Swiss Chard

FAQ

What is the best thing to do with Swiss chard?

5 things to do with Swiss chard
  1. Add chopped fresh Swiss chard to other salad greens.
  2. Toss in a handful of chopped Swiss chard to your next stir fry, soup or omelet like in this Swiss chard and navy bean soup or this colourful Eat Your Greens Frittata.
  3. Sauté Swiss chard in a little olive oil and garlic.

How do you cook Swiss chard so it’s not bitter?

While it may be counterintuitive to add vinegar to make it more palatable, the acidity in the vinegar balances the bitter taste in the chard and the overall effect is more harmonious.

Is Swiss chard healthier than spinach?

Swiss Chard

While it has a higher level of sodium than other greens (77 mg per cup), it runs close to spinach with the level of nutrients it offers.

What part of Swiss chard is edible?

We normally think of the leaves as the edible part of this plant, but ruby chard’s deep red stems cook up as a tender, delicious little vegetable all on their own. This recipe celebrates it all!

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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