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What is Swiss Chard?

Swiss chard (also known just simply as chard) is a leafy green vegetable related to beets and spinach.

How to Cook Swiss Chard

What Does Swiss Chard Look Like?

The leaves are large and dark green, with pronounced ribbing, httand sometimes the stalks will be all one color, usually red or white, and sometimes they will be a blend of colors, with stems of red, pink, orange, yellow and white. This variety is usually called Rainbow Chard or Bright Lights Swiss Chard for obvious reasons. The colors will fade somewhat in the cooking process, but boy are they pretty to look at when uncooked.

How Do I Buy Swiss Chard?

You can find Swiss chard in the produce section of supermarkets, usually near the kale, collard greens, or other sturdy lettuces. It is often sold in bunches. Look for firm, brightly colored stems, and leaves that are glossy and smooth, without any brown or yellow spots.

How to Cook Swiss Chard

How Do You Cook Swiss Chard?

You can use the entire leaf, the green leafy part and the stems. The stems take a little longer to cook than the leaves, but the whole thing is edible, and delicious, a little bit sweet in the stems (which have a slightly celery-like flavor), and a little bit bitter in the leaves.

Some people prefer to slice the stems out of the leaves, and cook them separately but as long as they aren’t too thick, you can skip that step if you like. It can be steamed, sautéed, used in soups, stews, casseroles, or frittatas and quiches. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads.

Sautéed Swiss Chard / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Chard appears frequently in Mediterranean cooking, as well as American, though it is used (sometimes called by different names) in cuisines ranging from Egyptian to Turkish. It’s not Swiss—there is no clear reason why it got attached to that country.

How Do I Store Swiss Chard?

Store chard wrapped in slightly damp paper towels, then tucked into an open plastic bag, where it will last for up to 3 days.

When is Chard in Season?

Chard’s main growing season starts in May and then goes through the summer, but it is readily available year round.

Big Biscuit with Swiss Chard and Mushrooms / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Is Swiss Chard Nutritious?

Chard is rich in vitamins A, C and especially K, as well as a good source of magnesium, iron and potassium.


6 Swiss Chard Recipes

Try chard in these recipes:

Sautéed Swiss Chard / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Sautéed Swiss Chard

Cooking chard in a pan is the best way to prepare these beautiful greens.

Mediterranean Couscous, Swiss Chard and Peppers / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Mediterranean Couscous, Swiss Chard and Peppers

The beautiful colors of chard and peppers make an arresting couscous side dish.

Swiss Chard Frittata / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Swiss Chard Frittata

With beautiful ribbons of colorful chard, this is just perfect for a brunch.

Big Biscuit with Swiss Chard and Mushrooms / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Big Biscuit with Swiss Chard and Mushrooms

An all in-one dish (with a backstory).

Shakshuka with Swiss Chard / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Shakshuka with Swiss Chard

This version of a very popular breakfast dish is crammed with softly cooked chard and spiced with cumin and paprika.

Chicken Sausage and Sautéed Greens Sub

Chicken Sausage and Sautéed Greens Sub

Sometimes you just need a SANDWICH.

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