This post contains some favorite Swiss chard recipes featuring this nutritious leafy green vegetable.
Pasta with Sauteed Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard (also known as silverbeet) is one of the first summer vegetables that I look forward to seeing in my CSA box the most. I especially like Rainbow Chard because of the beautiful stems. My mom used to sauté swiss chard as a side dish for dinner, which is still one of my favorite ways to prepare this green leafy vegetable.
However, over the past several years, I’ve learned how versatile Swiss chard truly is. In fact, one of my favorite ways to use Swiss chard is now in this Garlic Scape, Swiss Chard and Cilantro Pesto. Garlic cloves easily substitute for garlic scape in this recipe (I use 5-6 cloves of garlic). I’ve made this pesto throughout the last two summers and absolutely love it since it is a great way to get my kids to eat this nutritious green vegetable without any fuss.
Garlic Scape, Cilantro, Swiss Chard Pesto
You can either toss this pesto with pasta or serve it on Bruschetta as I’ve done here.
Tomato Bruschetta with Garlic Scape Swiss Chard Pesto
I’ve also made Pasta with Sauteed Swiss Chard for my kids and surprisingly, they enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. My kids love pasta, so tossing in some Swiss chard in this simple recipe was the perfect foil for getting them to eat their greens.
Pasta with Sauteed Swiss Chard
Don’t throw out the stems – they’re loaded with glutamine, an amino acid that boosts the immune system. These Korean Lettuce Wraps using Swiss chard stems were a great way to make use of the stems.
Korean Lettuce Wraps with Swiss Chard Stems
So was this Kalamata Olive and Caper Hummus that I served with Swiss chard stems (remove the stringy parts).
Hummus with Kalamata Olives and Capers served with Swiss Chard Stems and Radishes
I love seeing what my friends are making with their Swiss Chard. Check out these Chickpea, Swiss Chard and Sweet Potato Burritos that Joanne made from Eat Well With Others.
Chickpea, Swiss Chard and Sweet Potato Burritos by Eat Well With Others
Or, try these individual Swiss Chard and Mushroom Squares from Kalyn’s Kitchen for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Swiss Chard and Mushroom Squares from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Of course, Swiss chard is perfect simply prepared as this Wilted Swiss Chard with Pine Nuts and Oranges from Beyond the Peel.
Wilted Swiss Chard with Pine Nuts and Oranges from Beyond the Peel
This week, a group of bloggers is featuring Swiss Chard as a Power Food. This weekly food blogging group features a different Power Food each week based on the book Power Foods: 150 delicious recipes with 38 Healthiest Ingredients from the editors of Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Magazine. Power Foods are foods that are outstanding in the amounts of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, fiber and more, that help fight disease and promote good health.
So, what makes Swiss Chard a Power Food? Swiss chard is related to spinach and beets, so it’s not surprising that it is packed with nutrients. Not only is Swiss chard exceptionally high in vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin E, but it’s also a great source of magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, calcium and dietary fiber. In addition, chard leaves contain at least thirteen different polyphenol antioxidants, including kaempferol (also found in broccoli, kale, and strawberries) and syringic acid, which may help regular blood sugar. Chard is also a unique source of phytonutrients called betalains which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. All in all, Swiss chard can help promote eye health, boost immunity, reduce the risk of heart disease, and help fight cancer.
Check out what these other bloggers have cooked up for this week: (If you’re interested in joining our group, contact Mireya from My Healthy Eating Habits.
Alyce – More Time at the Table
Ansh – Spice Roots,
Casey – My Sweet and Savory
Jill – Saucy Cooks
Martha – Simple-Nourished-Living
Mireya – My Healthy Eating Habits
Sarah – Everything in the Kitchen Sink
Bambi – Adobo Down Under
Alanna – A Veggie Venture
More Swiss Chard Recipes:
Sauteed Swiss Chard with Carrots and Celery, Jeanette’s Healthy Living
Simple Sauteed Rainbow Chard, Jeanette’s Healthy Living
French Lentil Soup with Barley and Rainbow Chard, Jeanette’s Healthy Living
Baked Swiss Chard Stems with Olive Oil and Parmesan, Kalyn’s Kitchen
Swiss Chard with White Beans and Job’s Tears, FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Swiss Chard with Olives, Simply Recipes
Chickpea, Fennel & Swiss Chard Stew with Brown Rice, Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free
Swiss Chard Gratin with Vegan Bechamel, Chocolate & Zucchini
Chicken & Swiss Chard Pasta Bake, The Kitchn
Swiss Chard and Kale Frittata, TasteFood
Spaghetti with Swiss Chard and Garlic Chips, Smitten Kitchen
Swiss Chard Chips, Macheesmo
Swiss Chard with Garlic and Yogurt, Herbivoracious
Oven-Roasted Swiss Chard, Leite’s Culinaria
Tomato Garlic Swiss Chard, Living Lou
Sicilian Swiss Chard, The Arugula Files
Swiss Chard Tzatziki (Yogurt Dip), Simply Recipes
Thai Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup, Chicago Foodies
Sources:
The World’s Healthiest Foods: Swiss Chard
Power Foods: 150 Delicious Recipes With The 38 Healthiest Ingredients
SELF Nutrition Data: Swiss Chard
Dan Dan Mien and Book Launch Party for Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites (Giveaway)
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We get a lot of Swiss Chard in our CSA box, so I feel like I’ve done all I can with it… well, that is until now. Great round up!
I’m hoping to get some more Swiss chard in my CSA Box before the season ends – so many great recipes to try!
Jeanette, that burrito looks like heaven!
That burrito does look good doesn’t it! Joanne has the best creations.
I love swiss chard too ~ a very creative and inspiring round up!
I love these recipes–thank you for sharing! Swiss chard is one of my favorite greens, but sometimes I run out of ideas for it.
Thanks Marla and Kiersten – I can’t wait to try some of these recipes myself!
I’m bookmarking this one, Jeanette:)
What a great post, and my garden is really overflowing with Swiss Chard right now.
Great post with some many fantastic uses for Chard!
Thanks Alyce, Kalyn and Alyssa – a lot of people are intimidated by chard, but it is actually very versatile. I wish I had a garden like yours Kalyn!
Nice tip Jeanette. I often make pasta with spinach. Swiss chard makes a great alternative.
It looks amazingly beautiful! I hope I will be able to make these soon in the near future!
Thanks for all of the tips…I need to cook with swiss chard more!
Swiss chard is my absolute FAVORITE leafy green! There’s something that makes me so happy to be eating it! Thanks so much for featuring my recipe…I can’t wait to try some of these others!
I love to make chard in combination with kale for a super powerful dose of nutrients, it’s such a great vegetable.
What a fabulous roundup you’ve put together for us Jeanette… I don’t know where to start! Everything looks so appetizing… (p.s. love how you always style your pasta dishes so beautifully)
Wow, what a wonderful Swiss Chard Post, Jeanette! Your pasta looks delicious. And so appreciate you taking the time to put together such a comprehensive recipe round-up!
I just hard chard for lunch. Love the stuff. I can’t wait to try some of these ideas out….like those lettuce wraps.
Swiss chard is one of my favorites! Well, really there isn’t a green out there I don’t like. I am so very much loving this collection of recipes though. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks so much for including my recipe!! Swiss chard is one of my favorite greens – I like red chard the best. I am going to cook my way through this page. And eat lots of healthy food while I’m doing it.
xo