Wondering What to Make with Swiss Chard? These Recipes Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green
It often gets overshadowed by its popular neighbor kale, but Swiss chard is superstar in its own right, making a colorful, tasty side dish, or a nutritious addition to pasta, soup, quiches, and more.
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Kale and spinach aren't the only greens we should have on our plates. Less well known but equally as worthy, Swiss chard is delicious, healthy, versatile, and a great substitute for other greens in your favorite recipes. This leafy vegetable has earthy flavors and a mild bitterness, which adds perspective to dishes without overwhelming the other ingredients. While the leaves are bright green, the stems and ribs come in a range of colors—look for rainbow or red chard varieties, the latter of which is used in the Chard Oshitashi that's pictured right here. Either option will lend a beautiful pop of color and vibrancy to any dish.
And those colorful stems are important. Whatever you do, don't toss them—they are every bit as delicious as the greens and so easy to cook. Start a rich, flavorful broth for soup by adding the stems to the mirepoix. You can also dice the stems and use them in the filling for quiche, which makes for an eye-catching presentation and extra bite. When in doubt, sauté the stems in a skillet with oil and garlic before adding the greens to wilt, just as we do in so many recipes in this collection.
In terms of versatility, Swiss chard is unmatched: There's no question that this green works well in a range of preparations. Start by using Swiss chard in place of lettuce or heartier greens in salads, like our cabbage and chard salad, where it's marinates in a tangy vinaigrette made with sherry vinegar and mustard. It pairs so well with pasta, so mix it in to bulk up your main dish or side. Speaking of sides, you can use Swiss chard in a variety of quick side dishes, such as our Creamy Swiss Chard with Coconut. And it doesn't have to be prepared fast, either—Swiss chard holds up to longer cook times without falling apart, so it's also great in fillings (as evidenced by our Swiss Chard and Ricotta Galette) or baked into frittatas.
Curious to learn more about enjoying this healthy and flavorful green? Read on for our favorite ways to cook with Swiss chard.
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Cheesy Stove-Top Barley and Chard
In this one-pot vegetarian dinner, chard brightens a cheese-and-barley "risotto."
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Rolled Stuffed Salmon
It's hard to tell which ingredient steals the show here: the creamy Dijon and Swiss Chard filling or pink hued omega-packed salmon. This main course looks fancy, but it's quite easy to put together and is a wonderful centerpiece at a holiday meal or other special occasion.
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Late-Summer-Vegetable Minestrone
Homemade minestrone doesn't need to lean on store-bought broth. In this recipe, the flavorful broth builds from the bouquet of vegetables in the soup. For maximum flavor, we bookended this recipe with Swiss chard; cooking the stems with onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in the beginning and then finishing the soup with handfuls of the wilted leaves.
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Skillet Pizza with Eggplant and Greens
It's time for a pizza topping upgrade. While we don't often see Swiss chard on the menu at our local pizza joint, we think it deserves a spot. The deep green leaves lend a punchy flavor and silky texture alongside creamy eggplant and gooey provolone cheese in this decadent deep-dish pizza.
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Creamy Swiss Chard with Coconut
The earthy notes of Swiss chard pair well with creamy ingredients and that doesn't just mean butter and cheese. In this dairy-free dish, wilted greens are coated in creamy coconut milk with a hint of spice from garlic, ginger, and hot chile peppers.
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Brothy Beans and Greens on Toast
Layer up on nutrition by combining some of the healthiest ingredients—leafy greens and beans—in a fast and easy meal to be enjoyed anytime of the day. Start by sautéing the stems in olive oil and garlic before adding handfuls of the greens to wilt, then warm the beans right in the skillet and spoon the mixture over crispy toast.
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Swiss Chard Tzatziki
If you love tzatziki, this Swiss chard-filled spin will surely become a new seasonal favorite. Silky blanched Swiss chard leaves blend right into the creamy rich yogurt in place of the traditional cucumber. Just be sure to drain the leaves well, squeezing out excess moisture so it doesn't water down the dip.
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Swiss Chard Farinata
Easy to make, this chickpea flour pancake is our take on the Italian farinata. You can pick up the slices with your hands just like pizza.
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Beet Salad with Honey-Lavender Dressing
Beets and goat cheese are a match made in heaven, so it's no surprise that Swiss chard, a relative of beets, also tastes fabulous with this assertive cheese. Pair the most tender spring leaves with spring beets, then drizzle with a honey and lavender dressing.
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Swiss-Chard and Almond Pasta
A natural addition to pasta, cooked Swiss chard, like any green, almost becomes more of a sauce than an ingredient. In this recipe, we pair the green with toasted almonds and nutty Parmesan for a quick and flavorful meat-free meal.
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Rainbow-Chard Quiche
Tender leaves of chard are so perfect mixed into delicate quiche for this gorgeous phyllo dough pie. Chard stems make an appearance as a final colorful touch atop the greens filled egg custard, making this one a showstopper.
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Raw Swiss Chard, Cabbage, and Brussels Sprout Salad
Swiss chard isn't delicious only when it's cooked: It's also great raw in salads, especially when it is paired with super crunchy cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Everything marinates together in a tangy vinaigrette for maximum flavor.
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Chard-Tomato Sauté
Looking for a creative side dish? This chard and tomato sauté is just the thing to. make tonight. It's packed with burst cherry tomatoes, basil, capers, Parmesan, and, of course, Swiss chard. Basically, it's everything we'd want in a great pasta dish without the carbs.
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Swiss-Chard-and-Ricotta Galette
Swiss chard's earthier notes combine so well with creamy, cheesy dishes, which is why we knew it was the green for this free-form pie. The buttery crust includes cream cheese and oats, the perfect foundation for greens and more cheese.
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Farro Salad with Oven-Roasted Grapes and Autumn Greens
Swiss chard season spans from June to October and beyond, meaning there are plenty of chances to pair the green with different seasonal produce. Here, we showcase this green's heartier fall side by pairing it with sweet roasted grapes and nutty farro.