Your best Swiss chard recipes

[Nyleve]

I have a beautiful bunch picked from my friend's garden. I am embarassed to admit that, although I adore most other greens, my experience with chard has not been excellent. The last time I bothered to cook it, it tasted way more earthy than I liked. What to do with this? I want to love it. It's so beautiful.

[MrsJonesey]

I really like this recipe from Rachel Ray. Pasta with Swiss Chard, Bacon and Lemony Ricotta.
http://www.food.com/recipe/pasta-with...
It is also really good with cannellini beans in place of pasta. I use less bacon, 3 slices instead of 5, and find it doesn't need any more.

[Ruthie789]

It is excellent to use in soups and I also use fennel with it as well in a tomato vegetable soup.

[katz66]

This is so easy and so good..

Swiss Chard in Cream Sauce

Argentine name: Acelgas en Crema

Serves 4

Ingredients

25g/1oz Butter

1 small Onion, finely chopped

1 Carrot, cut into julienne strips

1 medium Potato, cut into 12mm/1/2-inch cubes

450g/1lb Swiss Chard, thinly sliced on the diagonal

Salt and Pepper

3 tbsp Heavy Cream

1. Heat the butter in a saucepan add the onion, carrot, and potato and sauté for about 15 minutes or until tender.

2. Add the chard to the saucepan, season with salt and pepper and mix well. Cover and simmer over very low heat for about 10 minutes or until the chard is tender.

3. Stir in the cream and continue simmer gently, uncovered, for a few minutes longer. Serve immediately.

[Elicanada]

I absolutely love the buttery flavour of Swiss chard. I often use it in a savory pie or make a green pizza with it. I parboil the swiss chard in salted water (to remove any bitterness). Rince it in cold water and drain. I then coursly chop the leaves, toss it in a bit of olive oil and parmesan cheese (adding garlic if desired). I then spread the mixture overtop of the pizza dough. I top the pizza with a little extra cheese (what ever I have available) and bake in the oven.
I also make make swiss chard rolls. It is the same recipe, I just roll the prepared pizza lengthwise, bake, then slice in sections.

[rcallner]

Made some chard and sweet onion enchiladas last night with a green sauce (together with mushroom/zucchini/roast potato enchiladas, heirloom refried beans, and a Mexican-flavored cabbage/carrot/radish/green onion salad). Saute onions and garlic, steam chard, puree them together with a bit of sour cream to bind - dip or brush flour tortillas in sauce on both sides, roll up enchiladas, dot with sliced olives and shredded cheese, bake. Top with fresh avocado slices and sour cream and/or salsa.

[junescook]

We have a favorite chard main dish that I adapted from a rabe dish I had in a restaurant. It takes quited a lot of chard. I wash the chard, and cut the leaves into narrow strips across the leaf. If the stems are marrow and tender, you can use those too, by also cutting across the grain. You don't have to get the chard bone dry after washing.

1 large bunch Swiss chard
2-3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
dried pepper flakes
2-3 tbs olive oil
1 can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
4+ ounces cooked penne
1 cup beef stock (I usually just use Minor's since it's always handy).
grated parmesan, romano or grana to taste

First I cook penne (I use whole grain type) until they're just done. Then, I pour a couple of tbs olive oil into the bottom of a deep pot. I throw in some thinly sliced garlic and some pepper flakes, and warm it until it becomes aromatic. Next I add the sliced chard (stems a couple of minutes first if using). As the chard wilts down, keep adding more as you can fit it into the pan. Then I add one can of cannellini beans (or any white beans), then the penne. Finally to complete the dish, I add 1 cup of beef stock to flavor and finish cooking the pasta stirring all to mix. We serve it with grated cheese. It's good enough to serve to company.

[Bettebet]

Does anyone have a recipe or idea for a salad made from Chard?
Can chard be used in place of lettuce?

[ellabee]

I was just about to reply to the original post with a salad suggestion. In my childhood, we had this over and over when it was too hot for the spinach (it bolts) so my mother subbed chard greens from my father's garden: tear greens into pieces, crumble large-curd cottage cheese over, chopped red onion that's marinated in vinegar for a bit, and crumbled bacon. Dress with plain oil & vinegar w/ground pepper.

Goes particularly well with tomato sandwiches!

[haiku.]

A real winner is Ottolenghi's Chickpea sauté with Greek yogurt (there is chard in there, I promise :) ) - follow the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyl...

[Crockett67]

Clean, washed, chopped, and sauteed with olive oil, salt & pepper, garlic. My SO like to add a little cider vinegar to his. I also wilt it in butter and add it to my carbonara recipe at the end.

If young enough you can toss them in a salad.

[gilintx]

We had very good luck with this Swiss chard gratin from Alice Waters:
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/20...

Like creamed spinach, but a little bolder.

[chefathome]

Simply mashing potatoes with steamed (or boiled) swiss chard and fresh grassy olive oil and seasoning is common throughout Croatia. After having it many, many times it is now one of my favourite preparations. I like to add roasted garlic.

[JP_nyc]

Joan Nathan has a simple and delicious recipe for Swiss Chard* with Fava Beans in her "Foods of Israel Today".

You take 1 lb. fresh shelled fava beans and put in a pan with 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, the juice of a lemon, s&p and 3/4 cup water. Simmer covered for ~15 mins or until beans are tender. Add 1 lb. Swiss chard (cleaned, patted dry & chopped) and 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro and simmer covered another 5 mins or until greens are tender. Quickly boil off uncovered any excess remaining liquid, and serve.

*recipe actually calls for milhouliyah, a green commonly used in Egyptian cuisine.

[toveggiegirl]

This is the perfect "gateway" recipe for chard haters. Who doesn't love something smothered in two types of cheese. (It's a great nasic mac & cheese recipe without the chard too.)
Bon Appétit's Double-Dutch Mac & Cheese With Chard
http://www.recipezaar.com/double-dutch-mac-cheese-with-chard-385351

Two of my other favourite chard recipes:

Debora Madison's Chard and Onion Omelet - Trouchia
http://www.recipezaar.com/chard-and-onion-omelet-trouchia-368595

Zuni Café's Chard, Onion & Gruyère Panade - sort of like a bread casserole
http://www.recipezaar.com/chard-onion...

[oryza]

Just as a tip-- chard gets really bitter the longer it's been picked; a fresh bunch tastes sweet without a hint of earthy bitterness, but after about 3 days, it picks up a strong, icky taste (that intensifies the longer it sits). It tends to stay sprightly in the fridge when wrapped loosely for weeks, but it's not something I want to keep that long because it doesn't taste good.

[cyclecat]

For a great vegetarian main course, saute a bunch of chard stems till soft in some olive oil with garlic, then add the shredded leaves, a couple of cans of black-eyed peas, undrained, and some cayenne or Cajun seasoning and let it all simmer for 15 or 20 minutes. Then add a little knob of butter and serve as is or over brown rice. This is really yummy...

[greedygirl]

I make a very nice tart using the stems, with gruyere and creme fraiche. I sauté the leaves and serve them on the side with a squeeze of lemon, and maybe some roasted carrots.

[carswell]

The stems I like parboiled, layered in a buttered baking dish with parmesan and butter dots and finished in the oven until the cheese is brown.

The leaves are great sautéed in olive oil and dressed with vinegar or lemon juice and crushed red pepper flakes. They're also excellent with pasta (onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, anchovy or pancetta if you like, vinegar/lemon juice, grated pecorino). Sauté with onions and combine with ricotta for a great for stuffing for roasted small birds (quail, Cornish game hens, etc.).

But my favourite use is probably tourte aux blettes, Nice's traditional chard tart, which comes in savoury (parmesan) and slightly sweet (pine nuts and golden raisins) versions. The leaves are shredded, sautéed, squeezed of their water, combined with beaten egg and seasonings and used to fill a single or double crust pie. The sweet version is dusted with powdered sugar just before serving, preferably at room temp with a glass of fruity rosé. Patricia Wells' Bistro Cooking has a great recipe using an easy olive-oil crust. Just found the savoury script online -- http://oneforkonespoon.blogspot.com/2... -- though I have to say I find the double-crust sweet version even more worthwhile. Vegetable-based dessert: you gotta love it!

[Nyleve]

Thanks everyone! I didn't get a chance to read the responses yesterday before cooking my chard but this is what I did. Separated stalks and leaves and chopped both. 3 slices bacon in a large pan until well cooked but not crisp. Plenty of chopped garlic, one chopped onion and a sprinkle of hot pepper flakes. Cooked until onion was soft. Added the chopped stems, cooked for a while, then added the chopped leaves and continued cooking until wilted. One drained can of chick peas - cooked until everything is blended and hot. That's all I had for supper. It was fantastic. I'm a chard-convert!

In fact I picked another bunch this morning so I'll do something else with that. I love chard! I can't believe I thought I didn't like it.

[kerns125]

I just made your bacon-chick-pea chard recipe (above) and it was FABULOUS -- a suggestion for anyone else is to add a touch of sea salt at the end for taste and to squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top as you serve -- it brightens it up and really transforms the dish.

[ecoppel]

I came here looking for chard recipes and gave this bacon/chickpea approach a go... And like kerns125 said, it really is fabulous! I added some balsamic at the end and topped it with feta cheese. Delicious and easy - thanks for the tip!

[always_eating]

I made Swiss Chard Gnocchi last night from an old issue of Bon Appétit focused on Provence. Here is the link on Epicurious:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

I have never tried using swiss chard in pasta (usually make it in a vegetable dish or add it to soups). It was quite delicious!

[Den]

If you like swiss chard and pasta try it in ravioli. Make a regular cheese ravioli. Saute the chard like you're going to have it for a side dish. Chop it up fine by hand or in a food processor and mix it into the cheese filling.

[Pia]

This is adapted from a long-lost Mario Batali recipe: I chop up the chard in small strips and chop some shallots to go along with it, then saute in olive oil with red pepper flakes. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray, sprinkle breadcrumbs on the bottom. Mix the chard mixture with 2-3 eggs -- not enough to make a quiche, just a little more than enough to bind -- pour into the baking pan, top with more breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 for around 15 minutes. Makes nice compact green squares which are great as a side dish.

[foodshark73]

Hey Pia, I was intrigued and Googled the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ma...

It's in the oven now (with a few modifications--I can't imagine it really needs to bake for an hour), can't wait!

[oakjoan]

Here's a link to the Zuni Cafe Cookbook's Chard and Gruyere Panade which is one of the most deelish dishes ever prepared.

I know this thread is more than a year old, but hey....one can never be too late for chard recipes!

http://www.recipezaar.com/chard-onion...

[danna]

yes, it is. I made it once w/ whole wheat walnut bread and it was the richest, most delicious concoction ever. I think i gained 5 lbs. it would be a good dish to have if you were "going off to starve" as they say.

[serious]

I used to remove leaves and discard stems before cooking swiss chard but the stems are actually the sweetest most delicious part, a tip from vendor at greenmarket.

[scunge]

I like to sweat some onions and garlic then add very ripe tomato and basil ,salt and black pepper .When simmering and sauce like I add the rinsed chopped chard I finnish with E.V.O and serve with crusty bread or a short pasta.You can add grated cheese.Once when chard that I had grown were large I did blanch the stems then breaded and fried them like cardoons or eggplant. Very good!!

[optimal forager]

I love this Rick Bayless taco recipe, with chard plus onions, queso fresco and a tomatillo salsa.

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/s...

[dexters]

I make this recipe often. It is delicious, and even my carnivore hub doesn't miss the meat in the tacos!

[TongoRad]

Similarly I like to make something with the chard (sauteed with red onion and a splash of cider vinegar), roasted potatoes and scrambled egg in a flour tortilla. Some queso fresco, or even feta cheese (which is what I normally have on hand) never hurts.

[sarah galvin]

I have just found a nice recipe for kale but it would probably work with chard, as well. It is marinated in coconut milk, cayenne, salt, pepper for at least 4 hours and then grilled. It is so nice and smoky tasting. Love it.

[rudeboy]

Sarah - this sounds so intriguing for kale. So, you just let it sit in that concoction and then throw on a grill? For how long do you cook and over what heat?

[sarah galvin]

You marinate for at least 4 hours. The recipe says about a minute each side but I think it depends on your kale. I left it on much longer. I'll be making it again tomorrow with a more tender kale so it may only need a minute a side. I used med high heat. I forgot, there is also paprika in it. I bet it would taste nice with a smoked paprika.

[rudeboy]

GOOD GOD - this was so good. I served up a bunch of it at a party on the 4th. Sorry to hijack the post - this is about kale. Not sure if chard would stand up, as kale is more "meaty."

I used the smoked paprika instead of cayenne. It was over a fire of hardwood charcoal and pecan wood. Medium heat, though. I let the kale brown just a bit on the edges before removing. The kale was perfectly moist, but seared, almost like blanched but still to the tooth.

I was serving some vegetarians, and vegans, and they remarked at my creativity (I gave credit, though). Thanks so much, sarah.......it was a hit.

[Nyleve]

My kale awaits in the garden. A month or two and we're doing this.

[sarah galvin]

I'm thrilled you liked it so much! It is my 'go to' veggie of the moment. Isn't it amazing though? I have to give credit to Vij's Indian resto in Vancouver.

[sarah galvin]

You marinate for at least 4 hours. The recipe says about a minute each side but I think it depends on your kale. I left it on much longer. I'll be making it again tomorrow with a more tender kale so it may only need a minute a side. I used med high heat.

[janniecooks]

I just made a lovely side dish of swiss chard with caramelized onions and pine nuts. Here are the ingredients to make about 4 servings:

2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, coarsely chopped (I prefer cut in quarters and then slice thinly pole-to-pole)
1 bunch swiss chard, about a pound, washed, leaves and stalks separated (pull leaves off the stalks by folding together along stalk and pull the stalk away like pulling a zipper)
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste

Toast the pine nuts until golden brown, set aside to cool.

In a large deep skillet or a dutch oven heat the oil over medium-low heat, add the onions and cook them until golden brown and very soft, stirring from time to time, for about 10 minutes.

While the onions are cooking, cut the chard stalks into strips 2 inches long by 1/4 inch wide and tear the leaves into 2-inch pieces.

Add the chard stalks and raisins to the onions and cook them until the stalks are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally while the stalks are cooking. Once tender add the leaves and vinegar, toss all about to coat the leaves with the oil, and cook about 5 minutes or until the leaves are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper, transfer to a serving dish and top with the reserved pine nuts.

[jenn]

I do something similiar with chard or with kale though I usually choose between pine nuts and raisins [whatever kind you have]. My recipe is from Spain/Cataluna.

Once made, if you wish to "extend" it into dinner, you can toss the whole thing with some pasta [fusilli or penne, something short]---just add a touch more olive oil and toss a scoop of pasta cooking water into the veggies before you drain the pasta.

[katz66]

This recipes sounds wonderful but why does it have rasins in it? Why do people feel they have to throw rasins in everything. Why not finish it with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Help me understand please. Rasins are great out of the box for the two year old.

Please do not take this wrong. I am going to try this tonight with out the rasins.

[janniecooks]

Raisins add a touch of sweetness to counter any bitterness in the leaves and the acid of the vinegar. If you don't care for raisins just leave them out. The recipe does have balsamic vinegar added for the last five minutes of cooking. Adapt freely to your taste, it may be different than mine.

[pamiam]

I love this recipe from Epicurious, although I omit the water - the chard exudes enough liquid to cook itself. I also likely up the amounts of feta and currants a bit, but I don't measure.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

[toveggiegirl]

Thanks for sharing that recipe. It looks really good. I'll have to try it.

[kc girl]

I made a swiss chard sidedish to go with some venison a friend brought home from hunting. And, the dinner had strong flavors, but it worked.

This is what I did, but I didn't write a recipe.
Saute swiss charde in a little oil with just a touch of garlic. Add some pepperoni pieces and stir until slightly wilted.
Then, I made a peppercorn gravy. This was plated with whipped sweet potatoes.