How do you tenderize Swiss chard?

If you have more mature chard leaves, cut them into ribbons and, before adding to a salad, gently massage the dressing into the leaves with your hands to help tenderize them.

Can you store Swiss chard in water?

Do not wash Swiss chard before storing as the exposure to water encourages spoilage. If you have large batches of chard, you can blanch the leaves and then freeze them.

Can you keep chard in water?

If you have a blanching basket, place a handful of chard in, and submerge into boiling water. If not, you can place the greens directly into water. Start your timer once the water begins to boil again for 2 minutes (for leaves), or 3 minutes (for stems). In the meantime, fill a large bowl with a bit of water and ice.

How do I make Swiss chard bitter?

Bitter chard

1. Wash chard leaves well and shake dry (or use a salad spinner to remove excess water). lice leaves into thin ribbons (the smaller the better)
2. Lightly oil a griddle or skillet.
3. Heat griddle and add spices. Roast for about 30 seconds, then add chard.
4. Serve immediately.

What is the most nutritious way to eat Swiss chard?

Here are some excellent ways to add Swiss chard to your diet:

1. Sauté it with coconut oil and add it to scrambled eggs.
2. Use it in hearty soups and stews.
3. Add it to a mixed green salad.
4. Toss a few leaves of it into your favorite smoothie.
5. Rub the leaves with olive oil and salt, then bake to make chips.

What is a substitute for Swiss chard?

If you need a substitute for Swiss chard there are some very suitable alternatives: Use equal amounts of:

• Mature spinach.
• OR – Mustard greens.
• OR – Cavalo Nero (Black Tuscan) kale, longer cooking time.
• OR – Large bok choy.

Can you freeze Swiss chard raw?

It can be eaten raw, sautéed, or otherwise prepared much as you would prepare spinach. It’s relatively easy to grow in most parts of the United States, and it’s easy to wind up with more than you can easily eat. Fortunately, it’s easy to blanch and freeze both stems and leaves to enjoy later in the year.

How do you pick chard so it keeps growing?

The most common method for how to pick chard is to cut off the outer leaves 1 ½ to 2 inches (4-5 cm.) above the ground while they are young and tender, about 8 to 12 inches (20-31 cm.) long. Older leaves are often stripped off the plants and discarded to allow the young leaves to continue to grow.

Are the stems of Swiss chard bitter?

Swiss chard leaves are tender and have a taste similar to beet greens and spinach. While some may find the leaves slightly bitter, they are less vegetal in flavor than kale. The crunchy stems are slightly sweet and have a similar taste and texture with bok choy stems.

Is Swiss chard better raw or cooked?

Swiss chard leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw Swiss chard is less bitter than cooked. The stalks are thicker than the leaves so they take longer to cook. Chop the stalks into 1 inch pieces.

Is Swiss chard healthier cooked or raw?

In its raw form, it is a good source of vitamin C. Note that the above values are for cooked Swiss chard. Like many leafy greens, Swiss chard shrinks drastically when cooked, so 1 cup of cooked Swiss chard will contain much more nutrition than 1 cup of raw Swiss chard.

What’s the best way to cook Swiss chard?

Add a few cloves of chopped garlic and a couple of dashes black pepper. Let the garlic cook for about 1 minute until it starts to turn golden, then add a couple of thinly sliced chard stems. Let them cook for another minute or so before adding 2-3 chard leaves. Cook until the leaves wilt.

What to look for in a Swiss chard plant?

To choose your Swiss chard, you should look for leaves that are bright and bushy, not browned, wilted, or damaged. The stems of Swiss Chard are delicate so you should look for stems that are firm and unbruised. Though there are a variety of Swiss chard forms, any type of shard should look healthy, full, buoyant, and not wilted or droopy.

Can you make a smoothie with Swiss chard?

Add Swiss chard to a smoothie. Any smoothie recipe that calls for greens like spinach or kale will be just as amazing with Swiss chard. It can be a little bitter, though, so just add a couple of leaves at first. For a berry smoothie, mix 2 chard leaves in a blender with 2 cups (470 mL) of water or other liquid.

Where does the name Swiss chard come from?

Although its name may lead you to believe it originated in Switzerland, Swiss chard is native to the Mediterranean (2). There are many types of Swiss chard, some of which have colorful, jewel-toned stalks and veins, making this vegetable particularly pleasing to the eye.