Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (2024)

Site Index Garlic Low carb Swiss chard Vegetable side dish

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Swiss chard : either you love it or you hate it. This lemon garlic Swiss chard recipe is one of the only ways I enjoy eating it, I find that I really have to add a LOT of flavor to chard to make it palatable. It’s a flavor mix of beet leaves and spinach, in my opinion, and a rather strong one. That said, it is EXTREMELY good for you, so I do try to find ways to eat Swiss chard when I can! Sometimes I’ll toss it into my Mediterraneanvegetable frittata recipe as a hidden bonus ingredient!

Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (1)

A Fast & Easy Swiss Chard Recipe

Although it’s definitely an acquired taste (kind of a middle ground between spinach and kale), this fast and easy Swiss chard recipe has over 700 times the recommended daily intake of vitamin K which helps with blood clotting and bone metabolism. AND it has 200 times the recommended intake of vitamin A which helps with your eyesight and boosts your immune system.

In addition to that, it has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with blood sugar regulation in your body. So it sounds like an acquired taste that’s worth acquiring, right?!

One of the most surprising things about Swiss chard is that it didn’t actually originate in Switzerland! “Swiss” chard hails from Sicily where it’s described in Italian as “bietole” which is the Italian for “Swiss”. This is because of a botanist called Karl Koch who first made the distinction between chard and French spinach and was from…. Germany! Yep, Germany, not Switzerland. If you find that a bit confusing I don’t blame you. I do too!

How To Make Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard

  1. Prepare your chard by taking out the stems and center ribs and chopping them together. Then place in a bowl. You can also leave the center ribs on if you like, it’s up to you.
  2. Coarsely tear the leaves and set aside in a second bowl.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
  4. Place the bowl of rib pieces/stem in the hot oil and saute until the ribs are tenderized.
  5. Add garlic and leaves and saute until they’ve wilted and cooked.
  6. Take off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and zest.
  7. Top it off with a sprinkling of salt and pepper and Parmesan, and serve when it’s hot!

Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (2)

Tips And Tricks For Cooking Swiss Chard

  • One inconvenience about Swiss chard is that it doesn’t last for very long. It’ll keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator once kept in a perforated plastic bag.
  • Don’t cook your Swiss chard in an aluminum pan unless you want it to develop an extremely unappealing murky color. It contains naturally existing compounds called oxalates that cause this discoloration and it is not an appetizing look, trust me.
  • Swiss chard is in season from October to April and June to August but you can pretty much get it all year round.
  • When choosing your chard, look for firm colorful stalks and bright green leaves. If you see any wilting leaves that are turning yellow then pass on those bunches, they’re not fresh enough. Any chard with brown stalks should be avoided too.
  • Swiss Chard stems can be tough! If you have tender stems, then you can reap all the health benefits and saute them until tender. IF they are tough and stringy, leave them out.

Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (3)

Love your veggies? Try these vegetable loaded Salad Recipes:

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe

Shrimp Caesar Salad

Happy cooking! So, where do you stand on Swiss chard? Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? Eat it because it’s healthy and you have to?

Love,

Karlynn

Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (4)

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Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (5)

Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard

Garlic, lemon and Parmesan turn Swiss chard into a vegetable that you will actually enjoy eating! This recipe is fast, easy and healthy!

5 from 7 votes

Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (6)

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Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Course
Side Dish
Cuisine
American
Servings
4
Calories
83
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2-3 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 bunches Swiss chard washed and dried
  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to taste
  • 1-2 teaspoons lemon zest to taste
  • 2-4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • To prep the chard, , start by taking the stems and center ribs out and chop them together, placing in a bowl. You can also chop the stems off and leave the center ribs on, the choice is up to you. Tear the, leaves coarsely and set aside in a different bowl.

  • (You can either cook the stems OR leave them out if you only want the leaves. I like a bit of texture, so I cook them first until tender.)

  • In a large skillet heat the olive oil.

  • Place the bowl of stem/rib pieces into the hot oil and saute until the ribs are tender.

  • Add in the leaves and the garlic and, saute until they have wilted and cooked.

  • Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest.

  • Sprinkle with the Parmesan, salt and pepper.

  • Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

  • If you really want a strong garlic flavor, use more garlic in this recipe.
  • Adjust the lemon juice and zest to your tastes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 83kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 92mg, Potassium: 107mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1487IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 1mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

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Site Index Garlic Low carb Swiss chard Vegetable side dish

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  1. Marla says

    Reply

    OMG, this is do delicious, I wish I had more!Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (11)

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Easy Lemon Parmesan Garlic Swiss Chard Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you get the bitterness out of Swiss chard? ›

How do I remove the bitterness from my Swiss chard? Salt. I sauté yellow onions in ghee and then rinse the chard, don't shake off all the water, lay on top of the onions. The water will steam the greens and when they have collapsed into the onions, give a good shake of salt and black pepper, stir and serve.

What is the best way to eat Swiss chard? ›

Chard can be steamed or sauteed, and it's great in soups, stews, casseroles, frittatas and quiches. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads. Chard always has green leaves, but the stalks can be a variety of colors.

Do you eat the stems of Swiss chard? ›

Chard stems are edible, too, so don't toss them when you're cooking the leaves! If I'm making sautéed Swiss chard, I simply add the stems to the pan a few minutes before I add the leaves so that they have a chance to soften.

Is it better to eat chard raw or cooked? ›

You can eat these greens both raw or cooked. However, cooking chards improves not only the nutrient availability, but also the taste. Swiss chard is susceptible to foodborne pathogens, like other leafy greens, so be careful about washing this veggie thoroughly before preparing it.

When should you not eat Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stone:

Swiss chard contains oxalates that may increase urinary oxalate excretion and predispose some individuals to calcium oxalate stones. As a result, anyone with kidney stones should avoid Swiss chard because oxalates may increase symptoms in certain people.

Is Swiss chard a laxative? ›

Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, and spinach contain magnesium, a mineral that helps soften stools, making them easier to pass.

Is Swiss chard anti inflammatory? ›

chard is also has an abundance of antioxidants as well as phytonutrient antioxidants. Why are these phytonutrient antioxidants so special? These antioxidants have been shown to have great anti-inflammatory properties. These phytonutrients can be found in the plant's leaves, and colorful stems.

Is Swiss chard good for your stomach? ›

Loaded with fiber

For example, it feeds beneficial gut bacteria, promotes regular bowel movements, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and slows digestion to stabilize blood sugar levels ( 8 ). Just 1 cup (175 grams) of cooked Swiss chard provides about 4 grams of fiber.

What does Swiss chard do for your body? ›

Chard contains 3 times the recommended daily intake of vitamin K and 44 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin A. This vegetable can help to combat cancer, reduce blood pressure, and enhance performance in sports. Swiss chard can be eaten raw or cooked.

Will Swiss chard grow back after cutting? ›

The leaves are large and dark green and are eaten together with the stem. The other chard cultivar, the leafy spinach beet, belongs to the Cicla group, of which only the leaves are eaten. After harvesting, it grows back and can be cut again.

Can I freeze Swiss chard raw? ›

Technically, you can freeze chard without blanching it first. If you do this, it will last about a month in the freezer. Follow the steps in this post, minus the boiling and ice water steps. Blanching chard will preserve the quality, taste, and nutrition and greatly increase how long it will keep in the freezer.

Is Swiss chard a super food? ›

All that being said, why should you grow chard? Well as it turns out, chard is a superfood and one of the healthiest veggies on planet earth. 100 grams of chard will give you 3 times the amount of vitamin K you need per day.

What are the cons of Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stones: Swiss chard contains antinutritive oxalates, which may increase urinary oxalate excretion and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones. Blood clotting: If you are on blood thinners, you may want to avoid Swiss chard due to its high vitamin K content, which plays a role in blood clotting.

What is the healthiest vegetable in the world? ›

The CDC assigns nutrition density scores to produce based on their concentration of essential vitamins and minerals. Usual suspects like spinach, chard, and beet greens all have scores ranging in the 80s. But the only vegetable to earn a perfect score of 100 is watercress.

Why is Swiss chard a super food? ›

Swiss chard is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin K and a good source of vitamin C and magnesium. Swiss chard also contains the antioxidants beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Vitamin A plays a significant role in normal formation and maintenance of many organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys.

What is the best way to cut bitterness? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

Why does Swiss chard taste bitter? ›

Chard has a bitter taste when raw because of an acid known as oxalic acid. When cooked, chard's bitter taste and vibrant color tend to diminish. Chard can reach up to 28 inches in height and will produce stems that are white, yellow, orange, or crimson in color.

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