Description
A simple and healthy recipe for sautéed Swiss chard that highlights the vegetable’s natural flavors with garlic, onion, and a hint of lemon juice. Perfect as a quick side dish ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 bunches of Swiss chard (or rainbow chard)
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings & Oils
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Optional: squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash and trim: Wash the Swiss chard thoroughly to remove any grit. Trim the ends of the stems to discard any broken or wilted parts.
- Chop: Separate the leaves from the stems. Roughly chop the leaves and dice the stems into 1/2 inch pieces for even cooking.
- Heat oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- Sauté onion and stems: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for about 4 minutes until translucent. Then add the chard stems and sauté for another 3 minutes until they start to soften.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Cook leaves: Add the chopped chard leaves and sauté just until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Season and serve: Remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Optionally, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Stir well and serve immediately.
Notes
- Be sure not to overcook the chard leaves; they should just wilt to preserve their vibrant color and nutrients.
- Feel free to substitute rainbow chard for traditional Swiss chard if you want a more colorful dish.
- Adding lemon juice at the end helps enhance the chard’s natural flavors and balances any bitterness.
- This dish pairs well with grilled meats, fish, or can be mixed into grain bowls or pastas.
