Want to know How To Cook Swiss Chard? Look no further. My Sautéed Swiss Chard recipe with garlic and tomatoes is simple yet unique. It's ready in minutes and is loaded with nutrients. This easy red chard recipe makes a wonderful and delicious addition to any recipe. Also try Raw Swiss Chard Salad with Apples and Chickpeas.
I absolutely love Swiss Chard. One of my favorite leafy greens actually.
And if you stumbled onto this page, you've probably bought a bunch of it and wondering how to cook Swiss Chard to make it taste delicious.
Well, you're in the right place. I'm going to show you the best method for making Swiss Chard. Spoiler alert - it's easier than you think.
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If you've ever cooked Swiss Chard, kale, collard greens or other leafy greens before, you probably know one of the most popular methods: - Chard gets sautéed in a skillet with some olive oil and garlic.
There's nothing wrong with this recipe. It's simple and delicious.
However, my dad who rarely cooks anything, created a unique Swiss Chard recipe that I absolutely had to share.
You know why?
It's phenomenal. And despite that I love a basic Swiss Chard recipe, my dad's healthy Swiss Chard recipe with garlic and tomatoes is so much better.
You'll see for yourself.
In a nutshell - Swiss Chard is sautéed with ground walnuts, garlic and tomato juice. It sounds simple but I can't even tell you how delicious it is.
Try it once and you'll be hooked.
🥬 What Exactly Is Swiss Chard?
Swiss Chard is a leafy vegetable coming from the same vegetable family as spinach, kale and collard greens. It's also related to beets but unlike beets, Swiss Chard doesn't produce an edible root.
It has an earthy and slightly bitter taste.
Just like spinach, the green leaves of Swiss Chard wilt when cooked. Chard stalks are edible too.
💭 Health Benefits Of Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard has a very rich nutritional profile. Just 1 cup of cooked chard packs more than 700% of the RDI of Vitamin K, high intake of which is associated with a decreased risk of osteoporosis.
Chard is also a great source of Protein, Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C.
Fiber in Swiss Chard helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
In addition, Swiss Chard is packed with antioxidants like polyphenols and beta-carotene that help protect cells from free radical damage.
If you've been looking for ways to incorporate more greens into your diet, Swiss Chard is worth including in your grocery list.
💭 Here's Why Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard Recipe Works
- my dad's sautéed Swiss Chard recipe with garlic and tomatoes is super easy to make and it's ready in minutes and perfect for the holidays. Pair it with my Garlicky Mashed Potatoes and Moroccan Bean Stew for an ultimate vegan feast;
- walnuts add a slightly noticeable crunch and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids hence making this Red Chard recipe healthy and satisfying;
- you can even make this sautéed Swiss Chard recipe with other leafy green vegetables. This healthy and easy Swiss chard recipe is versatile and can be prepared with spinach, kale or beet greens. In fact, if you love buying beets (to make Borscht or Beetroot Salad) and often wonder what to do with those beet leaves, this is the recipe you have to make.
Ingredients
Here's an overview of the specific ingredients for this recipe. For the exact ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.
Ingredient Notes
- Swiss Chard. You can buy it in any grocery store. It is sold in bunches. And although a single bunch looks quite voluminous, the leaves will shrink during cooking. That's why for this sautéed Swiss Chard recipe I'm using 2 large bunches. Before you start cooking, make sure to thoroughly rinse the Swiss Chard leaves. If there're any dry rotten patches, you can carefully trim them with the kitchen shears;
- Walnuts. You can also use other nuts like Pecans;
- Tomato juice. If you don't have it, simply substitute with 1 very large tomato or 2 medium ones.
🔪 Instructions
- Chop the walnuts. Add them to a bowl of food processor and run it on low for 5-7 seconds until the walnuts resemble corn grits. Alternatively, you can add the walnuts to a plastic bag, close it tight and using a rolling pin, softly press down to break the walnut into smaller pieces.
- Chop Swiss Chard. Place Swiss chard on a cutting board and holding firmly chop it into thin strips. Trim off ½ inch of the stem's end, discard it and chop the stems too.
- Cook the Swiss chard. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and over medium high heat. Add chopped chard and cook for 3-5 minutes stirring from time to time until the leaves wilt (shrink).
- Stir in the chopped walnuts.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Pour in the tomato juice, thyme, salt and cayenne pepper and black pepper. Add garlic clove.
- Finish. Continue sautéing Swiss Chard for a few more minutes until the flavors meld and marry. Adjust the seasoning in necessary.
- Serve. Transfer Sautéed Swiss Chard with garlic and tomatoes in a bowl and serve immediately.
👩🏻🍳 Cook's Note
Don't sauté the Red Chard with garlic and tomatoes for too long. You only need the leaves to wilt. As soon the leaves are tender and shrank, add the remaining ingredients and give it another few minutes. That's it. Easy and quick.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Rainbow Chard or Beet Greens make a good alternative to Swiss Chard. However, it's worth to note that the leaves of Beet Greens are drier and slightly more bitter. So if you use them in this recipe, you might want to add a bit more oil to make the greens juicier.
Absolutely. Stems contain lots of fiber, so there's no need to discard them. Make sure to chop the stems thinly so that they cook evenly.
Yes, you can. If for any reason you don't want to add nuts, you can skip them.
You can freeze uncooked Swiss Chard. However, you need to blanch it first by adding to a boiling water and cooking for 2-3 minutes. Scoop the chard out and add it to an ice water bath.
Then you can drain the chard and tightly pack in the freezer-safe bags. Freeze for up to 1 year. Don't forget to label the bag.
🍽 Serving up Swiss Chard
If you sauté Swiss Chard with garlic and tomatoes, it's best when served as a side dish. Such recipes as pasta or risotto, like Mushroom Risott or Tomato Risotto will only benefit from such delicious and healthy side dish.
To add some protein, serve this simple sautéed Swiss Chard recipe with cooked lentils or cannellini beans.
🌡️ How to Store Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard
This healthy garlic and tomato Sautéed Swiss Chard recipe can be prepared ahead of time and then refrigerated for up to 3 days. I recommend storing it in the airtight containers.
Reheat in the microwave or simmer in a skillet for a few minutes.
🥗 Similar Recipes
If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below and rate it. I always appreciate the feedback. Also, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
If you're looking for a quick overview of the recipe, please check out my Garlic and tomato Sautéed Swiss Chard recipe web story.
Recipe
How To Make Sautéed Swiss Chard: A Simple Swiss Chard Guide
Ingredients
- 2 bunches Swiss Chard
- ½ c walnuts packed
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1 clove garlic pick large garlic or 2 smaller ones
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ c tomato juice or 2 chopped medium tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes you can take less if you want
- ¼ teaspoon fresh black pepper
Instructions
Chop the walnuts
- Add the walnuts to a bowl of food processor and run it on low for 5-7 seconds until the walnuts resemble corn grits. Alternatively, you can add the walnuts to a plastic bag, close it tight and using a rolling pin, softly press down to break the walnut into smaller pieces.
Chop Swiss Chard
- Place chard on a cutting board and holding firmly chop it into thin strips. Trim off ½ inch of the stem's end, discard it and chop the stems too.
Cook the chard
- Heat olive oil in a medium sauté pan and over medium high heat. Add chopped chard and cook for 3-5 minutes stirring from time to time until the leaves wilt (shrink)
- Stir in the chopped walnuts.
Add the rest of the ingredients
- Pour in the tomato juice, chopped thyme leaves, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Add garlic clove.
Finish
- Continue sautéing Swiss Chard for a few more minutes until the flavors are combined. Adjust the seasoning in necessary.
Serve sautéed Swiss Chard
- Transfer Sautéed Swiss Chard with garlic and tomatoes in a bowl and serve immediately.
Debra Beasley says
too much red pepper flakes for me. I'm sure it works be a great dish otherwise!
Diana R says
This has become my go-to recipe for eating up and enjoying my end of season swiss chard and tomatoes - thank you for sharing!
Iryna says
Diana, thank you so much for your comment and a 5-star rating! I'm very happy you enjoyed this recipe!