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In-Season: Swiss Chard

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Written by Sophia Markoulakis   
Monday, 15 February 2010

ImageI love Swiss chard. Granted, it's usually swimming in fragrant green olive oil and tart fresh lemon juice. When I was young, we would fight over the last remains floating at the bottom of the bowl and slurp them up, mouth against bowl, dressing and all.

Yet, for someone so involved in food, I admit I'm stuck in a Swiss chard rut. I tend to treat all healthy greens the same, with that same childhood olive oil and lemon dressing. But I have vowed to try some new recipe ideas, such as those below, to help break me out of my rut including techniques such as sautéing with new flavors and incorporating Swiss chard into other dishes like ravioli and lasagna. Swiss chard, more that any other green, can be added to dishes without altering the finished dish's flavor. Tender and sweet, Swiss chard should be everyone's go-to green.

For the lucky ones, Swiss chard is available year round. For others, it's a late winter-spring vegetable that can reappear in the summer, if it's not too warm. Red and green chard seem to be the norm, but baby rainbow chard often makes an appearance at farmers markets, and when it does, it's a beautiful vegetable to use raw in salads. Colors seem to fade when heat is applied so enjoy the rainbow effect of chard as bedding for proteins like chicken or fish, allowing the heat from the protein to slightly wilt the sweet little leaves.

Nutritionally, Swiss chard is packed with vitamins A and K, minerals, and antioxidants, including lutein. Recent studies have found that lutein may prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. The dietary rule of "the darker the green, the healthier the green" also applies to Swiss chard. That being said, green chard is a bit sweeter than red chard. Really, it's more important to pick a fresh bunch of chard, regardless of its color over an old, wilted bunch that might have lost some of its nutrients.

Prepping Swiss Chard


Large quantities of Swiss chard are best kept wrapped loose in a plastic bag, unwashed and dry. Bunches can be stored this way for up to a week in the fridge. Once you decide to clean and use the chard, give it a good bath in a tub or bowl of water, changing the water until it is free from dirt and debris. Thoroughly dry and wrap in a damp paper towel or dish towel, place in a plastic bag and store in the fridge for up to three days.

Now that your Swiss chard is clean, you can prep it further by separating the stalk from the leaves. Fold the leaf in half and cut the leaf away from the stalk. Do this with all of the larger leaves. Prep further by stacking the leaves and cutting thin strips crosswise. You can also chop the stalks and use them like you would celery in salads and soups. When it's time to add Swiss chard to any recipe or when you're looking the fridge for a last-minute vegetable to go with dinner, you'll have a lovely chiffonade of Swiss chard ready to sauté with olive oil, salt and pepper, and garlic.

Most of this month's selection of recipes uses prepped Swiss chard in fast weeknight meals. And most of those selections are timely with our wintry weather, but really should be considered any time of the year as we all try to bring Swiss chard out into the forefront.

Here are some enticing Swiss Chard recipes to try...

Appetizers and Soups

Bruschetta with Swiss Chard, Pine Nuts, and Currants takes the classic Italian approach of mixing Swiss chard with sweet and savory flavors.


Bruschetta with Swiss Chard, Pine Nuts and Currants

(Bon Appétit, February, 1999)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:42 pm spm said:

This takes the classic Italian approach of mixing Swiss chard with sweet and savory flavors.




Barley and Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard is hearty, yet very quick and easy to make. With the combination of barley, Swiss chard, and lentils, there's a large amount of protein and fiber to fill you up.

Barley and Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard

(Bon Appétit, February, 2005)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:42 pm spm said:

This is hearty, yet very quick and easy to make. With the combination of barley, Swiss chard, and lentils, there's a large amount of protein and fiber to fill you up.




Pasta e Fagioli with Roasted Red Peppers and Swiss Chard is part soup, part stew and super satisfying on a cold night.

Pasta e Fagioli with Roasted Red Peppers and Swiss Chard

(Food & Wine, November, 2002)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:42 pm spm said:

This is part soup, part stew and super satisfying on a cold night.




Egg Dishes

Swiss Chard and Sausage Frittata is great for company or a large brunch gathering. It's also a great last-minute recipe since most of the ingredients are ones that we tend to have on hand.

Swiss Chard And Sausage Frittata

(Sunset, December, 2009)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:42 pm spm said:

This is great for company or a large brunch gathering. It's also a great last-minute recipe since most of the ingredients are ones that we tend to have on hand.




Leek and Swiss Chard Tart looks beautiful, pairing sweet leeks with equally sweet Swiss chard.

Leek and Swiss Chard Tart

(Bon Appétit, October, 1999)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:42 pm spm said:

This looks beautiful, pairing sweet leeks with equally sweet Swiss chard.




Frittata with Swiss Chard, Potatoes, and Fontina is similar to a Spanish torta with the addition of potatoes. Add a bit of cooked chorizo before putting it in the oven and you've got a complete meal.

Frittata with Swiss Chard, Potatoes, and Fontina

(Cooking Light, April, 2000)

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On December 23, 2008, 8:58 am pam said:

This was one of the best Frittata's I've ever made. And a perfect use for swiss chard. I wouldn't change a thing and will definitely be making this again.


On February 19, 2010, 4:43 pm spm said:

This is similar to a Spanish torta with the addition of potatoes. Add a bit of cooked chorizo before putting it in the oven and you've got a complete meal




Pasta Dishes


Swiss Chard Ravioli with Quick Tomato Sauce
uses Swiss chard as a stuffing ingredient with pine nuts and golden raisins.

Swiss Chard Ravioli With Quick Tomato Sauce

(Gourmet, February, 1997)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:43 pm spm said:

This uses Swiss chard as a stuffing ingredient with pine nuts and golden raisins.




Swiss Chard Ricotta Gnudi with Fall Mushrooms is basically Swiss chard gnocchi. These tender morsels can also be prepared and frozen before cooking.

Swiss Chard Ricotta Gnudi With Fall Mushrooms

(Bon Appétit, October, 2009)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:43 pm spm said:

This is basically Swiss chard gnocchi. These tender morsels can also be prepared and frozen before cooking.




Orecchiette with Artichokes and Swiss Chard uses canned water-packed artichokes, making it a great dish for a weeknight meal. The addition of goat cheese ties the flavor of the artichokes and Swiss chard together.

Orecchiette With Artichokes and Swiss Chard

(Health, March, 2006)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:43 pm spm said:

This uses canned water-packed artichokes, making it a great dish for a weeknight meal. The addition of goat cheese ties the flavor of the artichokes and Swiss chard together.




Pasta with Kielbasa and Swiss Chard
would be great with whole wheat or whole grain pasta instead of the traditional pasta.

Pasta With Kielbasa And Swiss Chard

(Gourmet, June, 2006)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:43 pm spm said:

This would be great with whole wheat or whole grain pasta instead of the traditional pasta.


On June 28, 2007, 10:10 pm pam said:

This is a great easy recipe that we love to make when Swiss Chard is availabe at the Farmers Market. The Kielbasa goes perfectly with the Swiss Chard... Yum!




Main Dishes

Breaded Catfish Fillets with Braised Swiss Chard
, mild catfish gets a boost of texture from the whole-wheat breadcrumbs that coat the fish and the Swiss chard gets a jolt of flavor from a dash of vinegar.

Breaded Catfish Fillets With Braised Swiss Chard

(Martha Stewart Living, October, 2006)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:43 pm spm said:

Mild catfish gets a boost of texture from the whole-wheat breadcrumbs that coat the fish and the Swiss chard gets a jolt of flavor from a dash of vinegar.




Lentils with Sausage and Swiss Chard is a quick one-pot dish that's satisfying and healthy.

Lentils with Sausage and Swiss Chard

(Bon Appétit, May, 2000)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:44 pm spm said:

This is a quick one-pot dish that's satisfying and healthy.


Pan-Roasted Chicken, Squash, and Chard Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette is a main-dish meal that uses winter's other vegetable-squash-and a medley of wild mushrooms in the vinaigrette.


Pan-Roasted Chicken, Squash, And Chard Salad With Bacon Vinaigrette

(Cooking Light, October, 2008)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:44 pm spm said:

This is a main-dish meal that uses winter's other vegetable-squash-and a medley of wild mushrooms in the vinaigrette.




Paprika Pork Cutlets with Swiss Chard Egg Noodles
is a typical Rachael Ray dish, cooking several recipe components together so that the meal is done in no time.

Paprika Pork Cutlets With Swiss Chard Egg Noodles

(Every Day with Rachael Ray, March, 2008)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:46 pm spm said:

A typical Rachael Ray dish, cooking several recipe components together so that the meal is done in no time.




Rosemary Lamb Chops with Swiss Chard and Balsamic Syrup is wonderfully aromatic with rosemary in the syrup and used with the lamb.

Rosemary Lamb Chops With Swiss Chard And Balsamic Syrup

(Gourmet, September, 2005)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:47 pm spm said:

This is wonderfully aromatic with rosemary in the syrup and used with the lamb.




Swiss Chard Purses with Sausage Stuffing uses the whole Swiss chard leaf, making use of this nutritious vegetable in a fun, inventive way.

Swiss Chard Purses With Sausage Stuffing

(Gourmet, November, 2004)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:47 pm spm said:

This uses the whole Swiss chard leaf, making use of this nutritious vegetable in a fun, inventive way.




Turkey Roulade with Swiss Chard is a great stuffed meat recipe for a special occasion or dinner party. The stuffing is full of fresh herbs, pancetta, and rice.

Turkey Roulade With Swiss Chard

(Food Network Magazine, November, 2009)

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On February 19, 2010, 4:47 pm spm said:

This is a great stuffed meat recipe for a special occasion or dinner party. The stuffing is full of fresh herbs, pancetta, and rice.



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Last Updated ( Friday, 19 February 2010 )
pam (Publisher) 2010-02-15 11:55:45

Swiss Chard is one of those vegetables I really want to eat more of but and now quite sure what to make with it. Thanks for the great recipes suggestions Sophia. I can't wait to try some of these...
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