This one-pan Swiss chard recipe uses olive oil, garlic, and lemon for a quick, bright side dish that makes leafy greens taste amazing.
Your New Go-To Green
- Flavor: This Swiss chard recipe has mild, earthy greens sautéed in savory olive oil and garlic, that is brightened with a fresh squeeze of lemon for a light yet vibrant finish.
- Difficulty: It is as easy as it is quick, with minimal prep and cleanup!
- Budget: Swiss chard is easy to grow in a backyard garden, and it freezes well. Loaded with phytonutrients, antioxidants, and fiber, it is an often overlooked gem.
- Serving: Perfect alongside chicken, pork, fish, grains, eggs, or stirred into pasta. It works stirred into a salmon bowl, as well.
Essential Ingredients
- Swiss Chard: This versatile vegetable can be used in place of spinach or kale in many recipes. Don’t forget to include the chard stems as they become tender and flavorful when cooked. You can use regular or rainbow chard.
- Olive Oil: Saute the garlic in olive oil to bring out its flavor especially well.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh is best, but if you don’t have lemons on hand, a sprinkle of apple cider vinegar will do the trick.
How to Cook Swiss Chard
- Cook the stalks in oil until slightly tender.
- Add garlic and chard leaves and cook. (Full recipe below).
- Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper before serving.
Flavor-Boosting Tips
- Be sure that the Swiss chard leaves and stalks are completely dry before cooking. Otherwise, the chard will steam cook and may turn watery.
- Be sure to lower the heat when you add the garlic to prevent it from becoming scorched and becoming bitter.
- Add the lemon juice off the heat or right at the end of cooking for the freshest zing.
Leftovers You’ll Love
- Refrigerate: Cool and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Warm in a skillet or microwave in short bursts, then add a squeeze of lemon.
- Freeze: Freeze in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Use in soup, salads, casseroles, or pasta bakes, as the texture softens after thawing.
Easy Veggie Sides that go with Anything
Did you try this Swiss Chard Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Swiss Chard Recipe
This easy sauteed Swiss chard recipe is light, flavorful, and ready in minutes, perfect for weeknights and meal prep.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Swiss chard stalks included
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice fresh preferred (or apple cider vinegar)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Wash chard thoroughly. Separate leaves from the stalks. Remove woody part of stalks (if any) and cut stalks into 1-inch pieces. Tear or roughly chop leaves into about 2 inch pieces.
- In a large skillet on medium high, heat oil. Add stalks and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly tender.
- Add garlic and leaves, then turn heat down to medium-low. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, or until leaves are wilted and stalks are tender.
- Drain any excess liquid. Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Season as desired and serve.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Swiss chard may be added to soups, stews, or casseroles.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 55 | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 532mg | Potassium: 438mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 6936IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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