It’s no secret that Swiss Chard is one of the best things to come out of Switzerland. It’s versatile, nutritious and a great addition to any dish. So if you’re looking to take your cooking to the next level, look no further than Swiss Chard! Here’s everything you need to know about this Swiss vegetable and how to cook it up perfectly.
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Prepping Swiss Chard – Choose Large Leaves Over Small
The most important thing before you start cooking Swiss Chard is to choose leaves with large stalks. Smaller stalks will take much longer to cook and will be tougher to chew through. If you want your Swiss Chard meal to be as delicious as possible, select big, full leaves.
Cleaning Swiss Chard
Once you’ve found the biggest leaves of Swiss Chard, it’s time to start cleaning. You’ll want to soak the leaves in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes to get rid of any dirt that may be on them. Use a garden hose if you have one nearby, as it’s the quickest way. But don’t worry, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t have one, as long as you finish cleaning the Swiss Chard within 30 minutes of it arriving in your kitchen.
Cooking Swiss Chard
Now it’s time to get cooking! For this, you have two main options – steaming or pan-frying. If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal, pan-frying is the way to go. Just add oil to a skillet, wait for it to heat up, then add your Swiss Chard and cook for about 5-7 minutes. For a more nutritionally dense dish, steaming is the way to go. Put the Swiss Chard in a steaming basket and leave it in boiling water until the leaves have softened. It usually takes about 10 minutes.
If you want to add some flavor to your Swiss Chard, try adding a few spices or herbs. Garlic, thyme, parsley and rosemary all work well. Or you can opt for a simple seasoning of salt and pepper.
Serving Swiss Chard
Once the Swiss Chard is cooked, it’s time to eat it! Serve it as a side dish to grilled fish or chicken, or eat it on its own with some crackers or bread. You can also serve Swiss Chard on toast with some avocado or an egg on top. The possibilities are endless!
Swiss Chard is a flavorful, nutritious vegetable that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Whether you opt for steaming or pan-frying, make sure to choose the biggest leaves and clean them thoroughly before cooking. Spice up your Swiss Chard with some herbs and serve it as a side dish or on toast for a delicious meal. Happy cooking!