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Swiss chard is one of those vegetables I always get excited about when I spot it. The only problem? It tends to disappear from the supermarket shelves just when I’m craving it! Luckily, when you do find it, this quick Swiss chard recipe is the perfect excuse to bring a bunch home.
The combination of garlic, onion and toasted pine nuts is simple but so incredibly tasty. The stalks stay deliciously crunchy while the leaves soften in just a minute or two. It’s the kind of side dish that looks impressive but is on the table in less than 20 minutes.
Table of contents
Tip from Simone
If you’ve never cooked Swiss chard before, don’t throw away the stalks! They’re actually my favorite part. Cook them for a few minutes before adding the leaves and they’ll stay wonderfully crunchy. Want to turn this side dish into a complete meal? Add grilled salmon, chicken, crispy halloumi or even a handful of chickpeas.
Recipe ingredients
This swiss chard recipe with garlic is pretty simple. It’s equally simple as the Swiss chard with feta that is very popular and just as tasty.
- swiss chard – you’ll need about 500 grams (1.1 lb). Any variety works, whether you find the colorful rainbow chard or the regular green ones.
- onion – adds a lovely sweet base to the dish. Shallots work just as well.
- garlic – fresh garlic gives the best flavor.
- pine nuts – toasted pine nuts add a delicious nutty crunch. You can also use walnuts, almonds or sunflower seeds.
- olive oil – for stir-frying.
How to make Swiss chard with garlic
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and gently cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Separate the stalks from the leaves. Slice the stalks into small pieces and roughly chop the leaves.
- Add the stalks to the pan and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften but still have a nice bite.
- Add the Swiss chard leaves and cook for another 1-2 minutes until just wilted.
- Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until lightly golden.
- Stir the pine nuts through the Swiss chard and season generously with salt and pepper.
Serve immediately.
Variations
This recipe is delicious exactly as it is, but it’s also very easy to change things up.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta over the top.
- Add crispy fried halloumi for extra texture.
- Stir in a few raisins for a sweet contrast.
- Finish with grated Parmesan or another cheese. I think it will work great with blue cheese too!
- Add cooked chickpeas or white beans for a filling vegetarian meal.
Storing Swiss Chard with Garlic
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Freezing isn’t my favorite option for this recipe. The leaves become quite soft after thawing, although they’re still perfectly fine to use in soups, pasta sauces or a frittata.
FAQ Swiss Chard with Garlic
Absolutely! They’re full of flavor and add a lovely crunchy texture. Just cook them a few minutes longer than the leaves.
Not quite. They’re related, but Swiss chard has firmer stems and a slightly earthier flavor. It also holds its texture much better when cooked.
This dish is wonderful alongside grilled salmon, roasted chicken, steak or a simple pasta. For a vegetarian meal, serve it with halloumi, lentils or chickpeas.
Fresh Swiss chard gives the best texture, but frozen leaves can work if you’re adding them to pasta dishes, soups or stews. That said; I’ve not seen any frozen Swiss chard here in the Netherlands..
More Easy Vegetable Recipes
Pasta with swiss chard recipe with tomato sauce
The Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Cauliflower: Tips and Tricks
Swiss Chard with Garlic
Ingredients
- 500 grams Swiss chard 500 gr
- 1 onion cut finely
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 40 gr pine nuts
- 1 tbsp olive oil for baking
- pepper
- salt
How to make the crunchy swiss chard
- Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the garlic and the onions. Bake until soft.
- Remove the stalks from the swiss chard and cut the stalks in small pieces. Roll all the leaves together and cut them as well.
- Stir fry the stalks first, as they need longer and add the leaves at the last minute.
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
