Chard often blends in and takes a backseat to more popular greens like kale and spinach. But there are many reasons why you should give this humble green a try.
Unlike my previous Try it Tuesday posts, this one is not so exotic.
Instead, I’m highlighting one of my favorite vegetables that just doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I even made an easy Chard, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Frittata recipe and rounded up several other recipes for you to test it out. Today is all about chard!
When is chard in season?
Chard is in season and tastes best during the warmer months. So unlike some of the other greens, it’s best right now. Look for it fresh at your supermarket or farmer’s market as Swiss chard, rainbow chard or red chard.
Is chard healthy?
Chard is chock full of vitamins A and K, calcium, magnesium and potassium making it a heart healthy choice. Because it is a tender green, chard is perfect raw – tossed into smoothies, salads and sauces.
You can use chard in a variety of recipes, much the same way you’d use spinach.
Healthy chard recipes to try
I rounded up a few chard recipes from some of my favorite RD food bloggers to give you plenty of ways to try it out.
Add chard to a smoothie. It’s an easy add to a smoothie as EA Stewart, the Spicy RD, did in her super secret ingredient Pretty in Pink Veggie Smoothie.
Stuff chard leaves just like you would cabbage or collard greens. Stuff chard leaves with quinoa, brown rice, vegetables and beans for a delicious wrap. It makes a particularly tasty stuffing in squash like this Chard Stuffed Acorn Squash with Za’atar and Tahini.
Braise it and serve it over your favorite grain as in this Braised Swiss Chard with Dried Cherries over Polenta! I am a big fan of braising it in coconut milk like my Coconut Braised Chard!
Try a tasty, fun and portable way to enjoy chard with eggs in these Veggie Quiche Patties from Liz’s Healthy Table.
Slice it thin and eat it raw in a slaw or salad.
How to make basic chard?
Don’t have all of these ingredients? Keep it super simple. Sauté the chard with a little lemon, garlic and olive oil for a simple side dish.
Chances are you’ve eaten spinach, cabbage, kale and maybe even collard greens from time to time.But are you meeting the 1½ cups of leafy greens per week recommendation? That’s the minimum by the way. If you’re not meeting the mark (and even if you are!), give chard a chance.
Bottom Line: This one is obvious. You gotta try it. Available in supermarkets year round and even pre washed these days, chard is an easy and nutritious add to your diet.
Let me know what you think!
EA Stewart
Nice to see chard getting a little much deserved attention in the spotlight 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing my Pretty in Pink Veggie Smoothie! I can’t wait to try your frittata, plus all the other delicious recipes with chard!
Marisa
Thanks, EA! And thanks so much for contributing!
DEANNA SEGRAVE DALY
Thank you for including my recipe and I so need these ideas for my influx of chard via my CSA share!
Marisa
Perfect timing! Thanks for sharing your recipe for the roundup!
Anne|Craving Something Healthy
Great roundup! I have to get to know chard a little bit better 🙂
Marisa
Thanks Anne! You won’t regret it!
Katie (The Muffin Myth)
I love chard! It’s not such a common ingredient where I live, but when farmer’s market season rolls around I scoop up as much as I can. That frittata looks great, too. We always have an omelet or frittata for dinner on Thursdays, so I’ll bookmark this for later in the week.
Marisa
Thanks, Katie!
Serena
Oh man. These look so yummy!
Marisa
Thanks, Serena! Lots of tasty options here.
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious
i used to get chard when I was part of a CSA, but it never went over so well in my house. Think I need to give it another try with some of these recipes!
Marisa
I hope it goes over better next time with these recipes! I honestly can’t tell the difference between chard and spinach when it’s mixed into an egg dish like my frittata or Liz’s quiche patties.
Farrah
I don’t think I’ve ever made anything with chard in it, but will definitely be on the lookout for it the next time I go grocery-shopping! :] These recipes look awesome!
Marisa
You’ll probably have to look for it… tends to blend in with the other bulk greens on a high shelf. But I’ve seen some pre-washed chard at Trader Joe’s too. It’s a nice alternative.
Liz - Meal Makeover Mom
How did I miss this post? Thanks for including our MMM recipe. Chard is one of my favorite veggies … so tender and versatile. Love the post and am pinning now!!
Marisa
I know you ladies are super busy over at the MMM kitchen! Thanks so much for contributing to the post. I can’t wait to try your veggie quiche patties.