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2 Comments Need an easy dinner that’s packed with vegetables? This Swiss chard noodle dish is exactly that. It’s ready in about 25 minutes, uses simple ingredients and is a great way to make the most of a bunch of Swiss chard. The slightly earthy flavor of the chard works beautifully with crispy bacon, a rich tomato sauce and a little kick from harissa and chili flakes.
The best part? It’s one of those recipes that’s easy to adapt with whatever you have in the fridge.
Table of contents
Tip from Simone
Swiss chard is one of my favorite leafy vegetables because you can use the whole plant. Don’t throw away the stalks and if you can get your hands on the colorful ones, please do. They’re wonderfully crunchy and full of flavor. Simply cook them a few minutes before adding the leaves and you’ll get the perfect texture.
Recipe Ingredients
It’s quite easy to change this recipe to whatever you have on hand. I used noodles here, as that is what I had but I’ve also made this dish using pasta. Works great too!
- Swiss chard – about 500 grams (1.1 lb). Separate the stalks from the leaves before cooking, as they need different cooking times.
- noodles – I used gluten-free noodles, but any noodles or even pasta work well.
- Bacon – Adds lots of savory flavor. For a vegetarian version, leave it out and add mushrooms or chickpeas instead.
- Onion and garlic – The base of almost every good pasta sauce.
- Canned chopped tomatoes – you can also use a tomato sauce. Anything works.
- miso paste – Adds extra depth and umami. If you don’t have any, simply leave it out. I’m in a miso kick later and did you know it is actually also very healthy due the fact that it is fermented?
- harissa – gives the sauce a bit of a kick. Sriracha or extra chili flakes are good alternatives. Or – of course – my favorite crispy chili oil.
- spring onion – for a fresh finish.
- olive oil, salt and pepper – to bring everything together.
Check the recipe card below for the exact quantities.
How to make Swiss Chard Noodles
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Meanwhile, separate the Swiss chard stalks from the leaves. Slice the stalks into small pieces and roughly chop the leaves.
- Fry the bacon until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, cook the onion, garlic and Swiss chard stalks for about 8-10 minutes until they start to soften.
- Stir in the chopped tomatoes, miso paste, harissa and chili flakes. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the Swiss chard leaves and cook for another 2 minutes until wilted.
- Toss the cooked noodles through the sauce, adding a splash of the cooking water if needed to loosen everything up.
- Stir the crispy bacon back through the noodles and finish with sliced spring onion.
Serve with grated Parmesan, fresh basil or parsley if you like.
Variations
This Swiss chard noodle recipe is incredibly versatile and easy to adapt.
- Make it vegetarian by replacing the bacon with mushrooms, smoked tofu or chickpeas.
- Make it vegan by omitting the Parmesan and using nutritional yeast instead.
- Swap the noodles for pasta
- Add grilled chicken, Italian sausage or white beans for extra protein.
- Love cheese? Finish with crumbled feta or creamy burrata.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
You can freeze the sauce separately for up to 3 months. I prefer cooking fresh pasta when serving, as it keeps the best texture.
Also Check These Swiss Chard Recipes
FAQ Noodles with Swiss Chard
Swiss chard has a mild earthy flavor, somewhere between spinach and beet greens. The leaves become soft when cooked, while the stalks stay deliciously crunchy.
Yes. Spinach cooks much faster, so simply add it at the very end.
Not particularly. The harissa and chili flakes add just a gentle warmth. Leave them out if you prefer a milder dish.
Noodles with Swiss Chard
Ingredients
- 125 gr noodles or pasta
- 100 gr bacon in cubes
- 1 large onion chopped finely
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil for baking
- 400 gr tomato cubes 1 tin
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 tbsp miso paste
- 1 tsp harissa
- 500 gr swiss chard
- 1 spring onion sliced
- pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Start by cleaning the swiss chard. Cut the stalks from the leaves in a v-shape (along the side of the stalks) and slice the stalks
- Roll the leaves together tightly and cut into slices as well and than down the middle.
- Take a large wok and heat the olive oil
- Add the bacon cubes and fry until browned and crispy. Remove from the pan and keep aside. Add onion, garlic and the stalks and bake for about 10 minutes on low to medium heat. Add 1 tsp chili flakes and pepper and salt to taste.
- In a saucepan you place the tomato cubes with the miso paste and the harissa and cook this until the tomato sauce thickens slightly. Add pepper and salt to taste
- Cook the noodles according to package instruction.
- Mix the noodles with the sauce and serve immediately
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.
Delicious. Had some chard from the garden this morning and this made a really tasty lunch. Thanks!
Great to hear James! Thanks!