Make Swiss chard taste amazing with this sautéed rainbow chard recipe! Amplify the flavors of this easy side dish by adding pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
Do you want to eat more green leafy vegetables? Aren’t we all. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are some of the best vegetables to eat. But Mangold is an underrated player in the game, right? Think of all the popular spinach and kale recipes: spinach and artichoke dip, kale Caesar salad, kale chips… Then think about what to eat with chard. (Silence.) Chard has long been neglected, at least here in America. But think again! It’s an incredibly flavorful green when prepared properly. And this easy side dish is here to delight your taste buds.
Rainbow Swiss Chard: Does It Taste Better Than Kale?
Kale is the leafy green favorite of the moment. But let’s talk about the rainbow chard, its lesser-known cousin! Chard, also called Swiss chard, is a leafy green vegetable used in Mediterranean cuisine. Its large leaves are used in many Italian dishes such as stir-fries, in pasta or on top of pizza. The flavor of Swiss chard is much milder than that of kale: it’s closer to spinach. So yes: some people say it’s an easier flavor to like than kale! (Though we love the sweet taste of Tuscan cabbage.)
Swiss chard is actually related to beets, not spinach or kale! You’ll notice that the tops look like beet leaves. Rainbow chard is actually not a variety at all! There are actually three varieties of chard that are sold together: white chard, red chard and golden chard.
How to cook rainbow chard
They have almost nothing to do with rainbow chard so they taste great! Just toss it in a hot pan with some olive oil and garlic, then salt to taste. It turns into an easy side dish in just 10 minutes. You don’t even have to chop the garlic: you toss the whole cloves in the pan. We like this method because it adds a subtle garlic flavor to the chard: and you don’t run the risk of overcooking the garlic. How to cook rainbow chard:
- Step 1: Peel and roughly chop the chard (the linked video also applies to chard). Crush and peel the garlic cloves.
- 2nd step: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and chard and cook, stirring frequently, until the chard is wilted and light green, 4 minutes.
- Step 3: Remove from the stove and season with salt and pepper. The plus: if you want, add parmesan and pine nuts to enhance the flavor!
Add parmesan cheese and/or toasted pine nuts for an Italian flavor boost!
Sautéed Rainbow Chard is a classic and easy Italian side dish. Chard is often served in Italian cuisine with pine nuts and raisins, golden raisins or currants to give it a sweet and savory touch. For this recipe we decided to omit the raisins in favor of a handful of parmesan to get the full flavor.
We highly recommended Serve it up with these two options to top it off! Roasted pine nuts give a nutty essence and the parmesan provides the right savory touch. The moment Alex and I tried the Swiss chard with these toppings, our eyes widened. It’s really uphill! If you’re on a plant-based diet, opt only for pine nuts. If you can’t find pine nuts, try toasted almonds.
How to Roast Pine Nuts (And Is There a Substitute?)
Roasting nuts brings out their nutty essence to the full. And you can definitely taste the difference! We highly recommend toasting the pine nuts before adding them to the chard. Here’s what to do:
- Place the walnuts in a small, dry skillet and heat over medium-high heat.
- Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Be sure to watch them constantly so they don’t burn!
What if you can’t find any pine nuts? Or are they too expensive? Pine nuts are notoriously expensive because they are difficult to harvest and only grown in a few regions of the world. If you can’t find them, there are several substitutes. You can garnish with chopped toasted almonds, cashews or pistachios.
Ways to serve this rainbow chard recipe
This recipe for sautéed rainbow chard is a healthy side dish for Italian and Mediterranean-style dishes. Also works in meal bowls! Alex and I served it in a cereal bowl with quinoa and various other veggies. But also the best way is a stylish site (in our opinion). Here are some great ways to serve it:
This rainbow chard recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, omit the parmesan.
The description
Make chard taste amazing with this rainbow chard recipe! Amplify the flavors of this easy side dish by adding pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
- 1 Bundle (12 ounces) of Rainbow Swiss Chard
- 2 Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)
- Wash and dry the chard leaves. Remove the stalks and roughly chop the chard (follow the instructions in How to Chop the Kale). If desired, thinly slice the soft part of the stems and add the mixture (discard the large, hard parts of the stems; or you can discard the stems whole).
- Crush and peel the garlic cloves.
- Pour olive oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add crushed garlic and chard and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted and light green, 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add kosher salt, red pepper flakes. and several freshly ground peppercorns.
- Discard the garlic cloves and serve immediately. Serve with grated Parmesan and toasted pine nuts, if desired.
- Category: garnish
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: Italian
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: Rainbow Chard Recipe, Swiss Chard Recipe, Sauteed Swiss Chard
