Swiss chard is a leafy green vegetable with a boldly colored stem. It can be cooked in a variety of ways and added to several meals and dishes. It has a slightly bitter taste when eaten raw; cooking the chard softens the flavor and gives it a delicate taste that complements many soups, stews, and casseroles.
Simple Ways to Cook Swiss Chard
If you want to add Swiss chard to your diet as a side dish, you have two options on how to prepare it.
Heat a small amount of grapeseed or another high-heat oil in the bottom of a skillet.
Add 1 tablespoon of garlic to the hot oil and stir until fragrant.
Tear or cut the leaves off the stems and place the leaves in the heated oil.
Cook over high heat stirring rapidly until the chard has reduced in size, darkened in color, and has completely wilted.
Serve immediately.
Swiss Chard Casserole
If you want to try Swiss chard in a casserole or baked pasta dish before you try it on its own, give this baked casserole a try. It uses chard as its base along with pasta, tomatoes, and cheese.
Ingredients
1 large head Swiss chard
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
1/2 cup artichoke hearts
2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1/2 pound bowtie pasta
3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
3 tablespoons olive tapenade
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
Rinse the chard well, chop or tear into pieces, and set aside.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until tender. Drain and set aside.
Heat the oil in a skillet and add the onion, artichoke hearts, garlic, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.