Recipe: Easy, Delicious Swiss Chard

Easy, Delicious Swiss Chard
Servings: 4

If you have never made Swiss chard, it's one of the milder greens and this recipe is just what it says - easy and delicious. Red-stemmed chard has a faint beet flavor.

1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large bunch chard, washed
2 to 3 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste Pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Squeeze of lemon

Remove stems from chard and cut stems into inch pieces. Mince garlic. Stack the chard leaves on top of each other and cut into 1x3 inch-strips.

Place a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. When hot, add the chard stems, cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring a couple of times.

Add the chard leaves; use tongs to stir the chard until it reduces some in volume (like spinach). Add the garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Stir again; cover for another 2 minutes, until tender.

Drizzle sesame oil and lemon juice over chard; adjust salt and pepper.

Variation: Increase the olive oil to 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons; omit the sesame oil. Omit the lemon juice; drizzle with balsamic or fruit-flavored vinegar instead.

Source: The Phytopia Cook Book A World of Plant-Centered Cuisine, by Barbara Gollman and Kim Pierce
From: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension