Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Something to Consider (Without Any Pressure)

It took me a couple years before I conceded to planting Swiss chard in our garden.  Friends raved about it and cooked with it.  I thought it was good, but I also thought it was one of those things that people hyped-up because it was different.  I didn't want to jump on the Swiss chard band wagon early and feel like a sucker if I was disappointed.  I'm the type that if you rave about something too much, I'm apt to write it off forever just because of your raving.  I think on things a bit and make my own decision and I don't like being pushed into those decisions.  Are we still talking about chard?

 There are different varieties of Swiss Chard.  Some are colored, some are all green.

Anyway, I, in no way, wish to bully you into planting Swiss chard in your garden if you don't already.  I just want to present you with some facts and let you decide.  Here is why I am very found of chard...

1) Cooked chard can be used in place of cooked spinach in every way I can imagine (I don't think many people eat it raw, although it's perfectly safe to).  Once you cut out the stem, it cooks up the very same way as spinach and when added to dishes like quiche or stuffed shells or veggie burrito bake, the taste difference is negligible.


2) It has one up on spinach because it grows and can be harvested ALL SUMMER LONG, unlike spinach which (at least in our parts) is only worth growing in spring and fall.

3) It can be frozen blanched or raw just like spinach, adding to your store of greens and possibly keeping you from contracting scurvy come winter. 

4) Swiss Chard is incredibly good for you.  I did not know how good until just recently and this is what prompted me to write this very post.  Obviously, it's green, so it must be good, but did you know that one cup of cooked chard gives you...

~ over 100 mg of calcium
~ 961 mg of potassium
~ over 30 mg of vitamin C
~ over 10,000 IUs of vitamin A
~ over 6,000 IUs of beta-carotene and
~ 19,000 mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin ("two members of the carotenoid family that are getting significant research attention for their ability to protect the eyes and guard against vision problems like macular degeneration*")
~ all for only 35 calories?

4) Not only did it make the book, *The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, but it also received the coveted star in the book which is reserved only for the foods most packed with nutritional value.

Keep in mind I'm not trying to convince you of anything.  Heaven forbid I would actually scare you away from chard.  If you're up for trying it, go to your local farmer's market and buy yourself a bunch.  Wash it, trim out the stalks, saute the leaves in a little bit of water until it wilts like spinach (like spinach, don't overcook it, causing it to turn brown) and use it in place of cooked spinach in your favorite dish.

If you're feeling a tad more brazen, give this dish a try.  It's our favorite way to eat Swiss chard on it's own.




Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard (adapted from Simply In Season)
Serves 4.
Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard (adapted from Simply In Season)
Serves 4. 

1 pound Swiss chard, any variety, chopped (including the stems that grow up into the leaves, but not the stems below the leaves)
2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. sugar
salt and pepper to taste

In a large frying pan with a lid, saute onion in 2 tsp. olive oil until softened.  Add raisins, garlic, vinegar and sugar, along with the chard stems.  Cover and cook for about 5 minutes.  Place the sliced chard leaves on top (do not stir in), cover and cook another 2-3 minutes or until the leaves are wilted but not brown.  Remove from heat and stir well to combine.  Season with salt and pepper.


But, don't just take my word for it.  How do you like your chard? Pin It

15 comments:

  1. You know, I have to agree with your #1 assesment as I think this might be the ultimate spinach substitute...we use it for everything. We have grown it for years now but this is the first year, possibly because we grew a lot less, that I have really begun to appreciate its various culinary uses. It helps that we were not plagued with leaf miners this season too...fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE chard! I've cooked almost all the chard recipes from Simply in Season (and subbed for spinach and sometimes kale for some of them too). I'm also a fan of Jonny Bowden - thanks for the reminder to get out my 150 healthiest foods book! It's been awhile.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That recipe looks delicious. I didn't get any Swiss Chard in my garden this year, but have in the past. I pretty sure you talked me into planting it again! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This year's chard is just about ready to start harvesting. Another thing I love about it is the fact that when you cut it, it will grow over and over - giving many harvests off each plant. One of our favorite dishes with chard is one from an Israeli cookbook; it is mixed into these meatball type patties. The combined flavors are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Do you know I've never eaten chard? Probably the reason I've not grown it either! I say I want to...becuase it's so gorgeous. But now I think I will...it reminds me a bit of kale and could be prepared the same way. As a matter of fact..I did prepare kale in a similar way as I added dried cranberries and steamed it in a bit of chicken broth.

    And I have to say...I am just like you in that if people tell me something is amazing...I turn the other way. That's why I'm always late to get the latest "thing"...if I ever DO get it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm the same way. If something is pushed at me and raved over, I shut down and vow to myself to never try what it is.

    I have never heard of Swiss Chard before, but that pink stalk is intriguing. I'll have to look closer the next time I go to the farmer's market or the grocery store since there isn't anything you have recommended I have disliked!

    ReplyDelete
  7. funny. i too was scared of this vegi - at this farm we go to, the owner cooks a delicious batch...but i can't get it right. i am definitely gonna try this recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My husband just made Swiss chard empanadas from the Foodnetwork website. They were amazing! Next time we get a big batch of chard we are going to make the empanadas and freeze some for a later meal!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Do you think chard could be planted at this date? Keep in mind that my season here is a couple of weeks ahead of yours, from what you have talked about coming ripe at certain times (we currently have a mountain of tomatoes getting ripe!!) I need something to plant in the spots that my bush beans are vacating now . . . and this could (?) be on the list! Let me know what you think!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My family loves greens and I agree: Swiss chard is one of the most versatile!
    I've cooked through all the chard recipes in Simply in Season (we especially love Chard Cheese bake and even eat it for breakfast sometimes).
    I use the stems too - I just start them steaming before I throw in the greens.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Patty R, I think you should give it a try! I looked it up and you should be able to start harvesting 4-6 weeks after planting. Chard handles light frost, so you should still have plenty of time to enjoy it:-).

    ReplyDelete
  12. If you don't have a million 'followers', I don't know why! How funny about 'won't try because of raving'... so agree, and the picture of chard is making me want to try EVERY recipe ever made. Or of course just grow because it's beautiful, and because it has longer garden life than spinnach, which besides blueberries, I think is the perfect food. Thanks for the motivation, without pressure! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome post on the benevolent chard...we grow 5 different varieties in our greenhouse, and manage to keep a couple of beds going all winter long...it is our staple green, year round. It would only take a modest, home fashioned cold frame to grow right through most winters...There are so many great things that will grow through the winter with just a little protection, such blessed provision...ahhh!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love chard. I'm going to try growing it during the winter under hoop houses. We'll see how it goes.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I've tried to cook chard a couple times before, with NO success. I had given up on the poor veggie :(. But I was at a farmer's market the other day and just couldn't resist the gorgeous multi-colored chard they had for sale (yes, it's January, but I'm in California). I went straight to your blog because I knew you'd have the perfect recipe for me. This was so good! Even got husband approval, which is a pretty big deal when it comes to leafy greens!

    ReplyDelete

Just a friendly reminder, if you know me personally please try to refrain from using my name. There are those who may try to locate me, break into my pantry and steal my pickled beets. Thanks:-).

Please choose the Anonymous option if you prefer not to sign in to comment.

Related Posts with Thumbnails