Swiss chard is a leafy green vegetable. It is readily available in the summer months in New England. Follow our suggestions for choosing and storing Swiss Chard and how you can prepare it!
Buy it fresh. Look for crisp, crinkly leaves and firm, celery-like stalks.
Look for different varieties. Swiss chard comes in green, red, and yellow varieties.
Store properly to maximize freshness. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Only wash it when you are ready to use. It can also be frozen after cooked for up to 12 months.
Eat it raw or cooked. Raw Swiss chard will have a more bitter taste.
Swiss chard cooking tips:
Add it to green salads.
Toss it into soups, stir fries, or omelettes.
Sauté with garlic and oil. Add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end.
Use the leaves for a fun lettuce wrap.
Information gathered & adapted from:
https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Cooking-And-Food/Vegetables-and-Fruit/All-About-Swiss-Chard.aspx
Creamed Swiss Chard
Ingredients
2 large bunches fresh Swiss chard
2 Tablespoons oil
1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
1/2 cup white onion, finely chopping
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
1.Wash the swiss chard. Cut the leaves away from the stems. Finely chop the stems and set aside. Cut the leaves into 1 inch strips.
2.In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes.
3.Add the Swiss chard stems and cook until almost tender, about another 3-5 minutes. Add the Swiss chard leaves and cook until wilted.
4.To the swiss chard, onions, and garlic, sprinkle in all purpose flour. Mix and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently so the flour does not burn.
5.Slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring as you pour to prevent the flour from causing lumps. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, until cream has thickened.
6.Turn off heat. Slowly stir in Parmesan cheese and mix until melted and well combined. Season with salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg.
7.Serve hot. Enjoy!
Serving Size: 1 cup, makes 4 servings
Nutrition Information per Serving: 13 grams total fat, 8 grams saturated fat, 7 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 5 grams protein, 293 milligrams sodium, 283 milligrams potassium, less than 1 grams sugar
Recipe adapted from:
https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/creamed-spinach-steakhouse-style-761467?servings=4&units=us
