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

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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

26 Ratings

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

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.

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

When should you not eat Swiss chard? ›

If you take Coumadin/warfarin be careful when changing your intake of green leafy vegetables such as chard, and if you have advanced kidney disease make sure you speak to your doctor before adding high potassium foods such as chard to your diet.

How to cook Swiss chard so it is not bitter? ›

The flavor of Swiss chard mellows once it's cooked. Adding onions and garlic will impart a sweet flavor, or pair with salty bacon, white beans or creamy cheese to offset the bitterness. I love adding a touch of spice and squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a bright pop of flavor.

What is the most nutritious way to eat Swiss chard? ›

It is rich in vitamins A, C and especially K, and it is also a good source of magnesium, iron and potassium. 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.

What are the negative effects of Swiss chard? ›

Can you eat too much Swiss chard? Although Swiss chard is extremely healthy, it should be eaten in moderation. Eating too much can lead to side effects such as: Kidney stones: Swiss chard contains antinutritive oxalates, which may increase urinary oxalate excretion and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones.

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.

How to get rid of the bitterness in Swiss chard? ›

It has a slightly bitter taste, but that can be resolved with adding a little acid, like lemon juice. Swiss chard is generally served cooked, as the leaves brighten nicely when sautéed in a bit of oil.

Are coffee grounds good for Swiss chard? ›

Yes, and yes! Coffee beans are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Phosphorus and potassium improve yields, and nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis, which helps plants grow faster. Ground coffee is excellent for both house and garden plants.

Is Swiss 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.

Is Swiss chard good for your liver? ›

Healthy liver:

Because of its flavonoid content, Swiss chard has a high antioxidant capability. This contributes to the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic characteristics of the compound. As a result, Swiss chard is a prospective therapeutic agent in clinical studies for reducing nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.

How do you get rid of the taste of chard? ›

Use older chard, which tends to be markedly less bitter than the young chard you're using; Avoid bringing out the bitterness, by cooking at lower heat; Mute any remaining bitterness with salt, which is pretty common for leafy greens.

How to tell if Swiss chard is bad? ›

How to tell if chard is bad. Swiss chard can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, but you'll know when it's gone bad if it has spots on the leaves.

Is it safe to eat Swiss chard with brown spots? ›

The insect won't kill your plant, and you can eat any unaffected parts, but you obviously won't want to eat any of the blotched sections of the leaves.

Can Swiss chard upset your stomach? ›

Moderation is key. Small, occasional servings of cooked Swiss Chard can be beneficial, but too much can lead to digestive upset and excessive flatulence.

Does Swiss chard cause inflammation? ›

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.

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