This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (2024)

  • Side Dishes
  • Gluten-Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Skillet

A quick side with minimal prep, this simple sautéed Swiss chard is tasty and versatile.

By

Elise Bauer

This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated January 31, 2024

This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (2)

26 ratings

Looking for an easy way to get more greens in your diet? Try this simple sautéed Swiss chard recipe.

This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (3)

What Is Swiss Chard?

In the spectrum of greens, Swiss chard lies between spinach and kale—not as tender as spinach, not as tough as kale. But like spinach, you can easily sauté it in some olive oil in just a few minutes.

The stems can be tough. You can either remove them and discard, or boil and toss with butter: if some of the stems are tender, just sauté them first before adding the leaves, to give them more cooking time.

By the way, not only is chard packed with vitamins (vitamins K, A, and C), it also is anti-inflammatory and helps the body manage blood sugar. It's in the same family as beets, spinach, and quinoa. Even more reasons to eat chard!

What Is Swiss Chard and How to Cook ItREAD MORE:

This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (4)

How to Cook Swiss Chard

For this easy sauté we are cooking the chard in just a little olive oil with some thinly sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. We're also including coriander seeds which taste fantastic with the chard. If you don't have coriander, you can skip it, but if you do have it it will make this simple Swiss chard dish truly special.

Buying and Storing Swiss Chard

There are several varieties of chard, and they're almost always interchangeable in recipes. It's their stalks, not their leaves, that differentiate varieties. Swiss chard usually refers to chard with white stems. Red-stalked varieties are rhubarb (different from the rhubarb used to make pies), red, or ruby chard. Rainbow chard has multicolored stalks. For this recipe, use any variety.

Choose chard with crisp, deep green leaves and stems that are firm. Don't buy wilted chard or chard with leaves with holes in them. To keep it fresh, store dry chard at home before wrapping in paper towels in an air-tight zipper bag for up to 7 days.

Can You Freeze Swiss Chard?

Freeze uncooked Swiss chard by separating the leaves from the stems. Blanch the stems for 3 minutes and the leaves for 1 minute, then shock in an ice bath. Freeze in a freezer-safe zipper bag with the air pressed out for up to 6 months.

Or you can prepare this recipe, let it cool, and freeze it for an instant side dish.

More Swiss Chard Recipes to Try

  • Easy Pasta With Winter Greens
  • Chicken Stew With Coriander, Cilantro, and Chard
  • No-Bake Lasagna
  • Eggs Nested in Sautéed Chard and Mushrooms
  • Swiss Chard Tzatziki (Yogurt Dip)

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Easy Sautéed Swiss Chard

Prep Time8 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time18 mins

Servings2to 4 servings

The coriander seeds are optional because not everyone has them in their spice rack. But if you do, please use them! Coriander iswonderful with chard.

Ingredients

  • 1 large bunch fresh Swiss chard (7 or 8 large leaves)

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 clove garlic, sliced

  • Pinch crushed red pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon whole coriander seeds (optional)

Method

  1. Prep the chard stalks and leaves:

    Rinse out the Swiss chard leaves thoroughly. Either tear or cut away the thick stalks from the leaves.

    Cut the stalk pieces into 1-inch pieces. Chop the leaves into inch-wide strips. Keep the stalks and leaves separate.

  2. Sauté the garlic and crushed red pepper:

    Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan on medium high heat. Add garlic slices, crushed red pepper, and coriander seeds (if using), and cook for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant.

  3. Add the stalks:

    Add the chopped Swiss chard stalks. Lower the heat to low, cover, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

    This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (5)

  4. Add the leaves:

    Add the chopped chard leaves, toss with the oil and garlic in the pan. Cover and cook for 3 to 4 more minutes. Turn the leaves and the stalks over in the pan.

    This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (6)

    This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (7)

    If the chard still needs a bit more cooking (remove a piece and taste it), cover and cook a few more minutes.

    Serve immediately.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
70Calories
7g Fat
2g Carbs
1g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2to 4
Amount per serving
Calories70
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g9%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 79mg3%
Total Carbohydrate 2g1%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 8mg41%
Calcium 28mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
Potassium 245mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

This Easy Swiss Chard Recipe Will Get Everyone to Eat Their Greens (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat Swiss chard? ›

Chard can be steamed or sauteed, and it's great in soups, stews, casseroles, frittatas and quiches. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads. Chard always has green leaves, but the stalks can be a variety of colors.

How to make Swiss chard not bitter? ›

How do I remove the bitterness from my Swiss chard? Salt. I sauté yellow onions in ghee and then rinse the chard, don't shake off all the water, lay on top of the onions. The water will steam the greens and when they have collapsed into the onions, give a good shake of salt and black pepper, stir and serve.

When should you not eat Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stone:

Swiss chard contains oxalates that may increase urinary oxalate excretion and predispose some individuals to calcium oxalate stones. As a result, anyone with kidney stones should avoid Swiss chard because oxalates may increase symptoms in certain people.

Is it better to eat raw or cooked Swiss chard? ›

You can eat these greens both raw or cooked. However, cooking chards improves not only the nutrient availability, but also the taste. Swiss chard is susceptible to foodborne pathogens, like other leafy greens, so be careful about washing this veggie thoroughly before preparing it.

What part of Swiss chard is edible? ›

Introduction. The colorful, leafy green known as Swiss chard is actually a beet that was developed specifically for its edible stems and leaves, which are often used in recipes as a substitute for spinach.

Is chard anti inflammatory? ›

chard is also has an abundance of antioxidants as well as phytonutrient antioxidants. Why are these phytonutrient antioxidants so special? These antioxidants have been shown to have great anti-inflammatory properties. These phytonutrients can be found in the plant's leaves, and colorful stems.

How do you remove oxalates from Swiss chard? ›

Because oxalates are water soluble, they can be reduced by blanching, boiling, or steaming with the liquid discarded. Fermentation reduces oxalates. Cooking in milk or macerating in whey can also mitigate oxalate exposure. Sprouting can help too.

Why is my Swiss chard bitter? ›

Chard will usually bolt in any extreme temperature conditions like freezing and in extremely dry hot weather.” Doyle noted that the plant might continue to produce the typical chard leaves, and that the smoother leaves are still flavorful but more bitter than others.

How do you keep Swiss chard crisp? ›

For added protection, consider storing your chard in a plastic bag and press out extra air to reduce the chance of condensation. The greens will stay crisp for about a week. But, it's easy to find a use for chard up to two weeks after you bring it home!

Does Swiss chard raise blood pressure? ›

Along with other leafy greens and descendants of the beet family, Swiss chard contains high levels of nitrates, which been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, and enhance athletic performance.

What is eating my Swiss chard at night? ›

Slugs. Chews irregular holes in leaves; can completely defoliate plants. Feeds during night and typically not seen during day.

Is Swiss chard a laxative? ›

Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, and spinach contain magnesium, a mineral that helps soften stools, making them easier to pass.

What is the healthiest way to eat Swiss chard? ›

Boil Swiss chard for a healthier side dish.

Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove, and add several generous pinches of salt. Add the chopped stems from 3-4 leaves, and cook for 2-4 minutes until they're mostly tender. Place the leaves in the pot, and cover for 1-2 minutes. The leaves should be wilted.

Is Swiss chard good for your liver? ›

Swiss chard supports healthy liver function: Swiss chard contains a flavonoid called syringic acid, which prevents liver degeneration and lowers liver enzymes in the blood.

What does Swiss chard do for your body? ›

Chard contains 3 times the recommended daily intake of vitamin K and 44 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin A. This vegetable can help to combat cancer, reduce blood pressure, and enhance performance in sports. Swiss chard can be eaten raw or cooked.

Is Swiss chard better than spinach? ›

Spinach have significantly more Vitamins A than chard. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. Spinach is a great source of Thiamin, Niacin, Zinc, Phosphorus.

Which is better kale or Swiss chard? ›

While both vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, they differ in their concentrations of certain nutrients. For example, kale is a better source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and calcium, while chard is higher in vitamin A and iron.

What does cooked Swiss chard taste like? ›

What does chard taste like? Similar to spinach, most varieties of chard are earthy and pleasantly bitter when eaten raw. While it is not as bitter as kale, the bitterness in chard also diminishes as the leaves are cooked, giving them a milder and sweeter flavor and tender texture.

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