Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (2024)

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Naturally vegan, this Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes makes a great Italian side dish that goes with almost any meal. It’s an easy Italian recipe just like nonna used to make.

Speaking of authentic Italian recipes, have you tried the classic combination of Italian beans and greens? Packed with flavor, this escarole recipe is a staple in many Italian households.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (1)

Introduction

Do you like to create amazing side dishes with simple foods that just scream comfort food?

Italian regional cooking provides endless examples when it comes to green leafy vegetables and potatoes.

Whether it is sauteed escarole, rapini, spinach or Italian roasted potatoes, some of these classic Italian side dishes have stood the test of time.

In this Swiss chard recipe with potatoes, the vegetables are first boiled and then quickly sauteed together with garlic to make one of the best comfort food recipes. This easy side dish is not only healthy but delicious as well.

The longest part of the recipe is cleaning the Swiss chard, so let’s get started!

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (2)

Mise en place

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. While we wait, let’s start chopping.

Prep the potatoes: You need about 4 medium yellow potatoes or about 2 pounds. Peel and dice into ¾-inch cubes.

When the water begins to boil, add the diced potatoes and a teaspoon of salt.

Turn down the heat and gently simmer the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes, until they become tender and can be easily pierced with a knife.

While the cubed potatoes are simmering, let’s prep the other two main ingredients.

Prep the garlic: Remove the papery skin of 3-4 garlic cloves and cut off the tips. Give them a rough chop. Feel free to use more (or less) according to your personal preference and the size of your cloves. Set aside.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (3)

Prep the Swiss chard: You need about 2 pounds of Swiss or rainbow chard for this recipe.

With a sharp knife, trim off the bottom of the individual stems. If there are other visible dark spots on the stem, use a vegetable peeler to remove them.

Cut the thick ribs from the green leafy part and keep them in two separate piles.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (4)

Fill a large mixing bowl with water and gently rub off the dirt and sand from the ribs and then the leaves. Keep them separated.

You may have to change the water a couple of times in order to properly remove all the dirt. Give them a final rinse.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (5)

Cut the ribs into ½-inch strips. Set aside.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (6)

Next, cut the leaves into ½ inch strips. Set aside.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (7)

By this time, the potatoes should be tender. Add the chopped ribs.

Boil for 3-5 minutes or until just beginning to soften. The total time depends on their size.

Next, add the leafy portion of the chard and boil for approximately 30 seconds. Drain all the vegetables in a colander.

Instructions for sauteeing

Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan. Add the 3-4 cloves of coarsely chopped garlic and red pepper flakes (if using).

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (8)

Turn on the heat to medium-high.

Once the garlic begins to sizzle and starts turning golden brown, reduce heat to medium.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (9)

Add the mixture of swiss chard and potatoes.

Season with salt and pepper, taste and adjust.

Sauté until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir often.

Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice (from half a lemon) and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Serve immediately and enjoy the best-cooked swiss chard recipe any time of the year!

Tips

  • Season your water properly with salt.
  • Add the oil, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pan first, and then turn on the heat. This allows the garlic to slowly cook, preventing it from burning.
  • Start cooking your potatoes in a pot of boiling water as we want to exterior to be soft.
  • Add the lemon juice once the pan is off the heat to preserve its bright flavor.

How can I make this a complete meal?

The addition of a can of chickpeas transforms this simple side dish into a high fiber, healthy and complete meal.

What foods go well with this Swiss chard recipe?

These sauteed greens with potatoes make a great side dish to almost any main meal. One of my favorite ways to serve it is alongside this baked cod recipe. It’s also great with this recipe for pan seared lamb.

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (10)

Recipe inspiration

Vegetables have always played a major role in Italian cuisine.

When my grandparents and parents immigrated from rural Italy, having a backyard garden was very important to them.

It was just one way to provide their family with simple foods while maintaining their values and traditions.

As a result, I grew up eating A LOT of greens.

My dad planted them all –broccoli rabe, escarole, spinach, collard greens and of course Swiss chard. If you are interested, I shared a photo of my dad’s garden in this recipe post for Italian-Style sauteed Swiss chard.

Swiss chard and potatoes are referred to as bietola e patate in Italian. This was a side dish that was often made by my paternal nonna, especially in the summer.

It really is the perfect example of a simple, humble side dish.

Today, my goal was to document my nonna’s recipe the way she made it.

Over the years, I have sauteed this dish with onions and other vegetables. It really is very versatile and always comes out great.

I have also created a swiss chard hash that I plan on sharing with you in the coming weeks. But first, my garden chard needs to grow a little…

What about you? Do you have a favorite recipe you make with Swiss chard and potatoes?

I would love to hear about it!

THANKS SO MUCHfor following and being part of theShe Loves Biscotticommunity where you will findSimple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

And if you are new here, welcome!You may want to sign up formy weekly e-mail newsletter.This way, you won’t miss any of my new recipes.

Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have made this Italian swiss chard recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (11)

Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes

Naturally vegan, this Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes makes a great Italian side dish that goes with almost any meal. It's an easy Italian recipe just like nonna used to make.

4.97 from 26 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 377kcal

Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds yellow potatoes about 4 medium, peeled and diced (¾ inch)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pounds Swiss chard ends trimmed, cleaned, ribs separated from the leafy part, cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil separated
  • 3-4 cloves garlic fresh, roughly chopped
  • pinch red pepper flakes optional, or more
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice from ½ lemon and olive oil optional, to garnish, from ½ lemon
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil optional, to drizzle over the top

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

  • Add the diced potatoes and the salt.

  • Reduce heat to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes, until they become tender and can be easily pierced with a knife.

  • While the potatoes are simmering, properly clean and chop the chard into ½ inch strips. (refer to details in post).

  • When the potatoes are tender, add the chopped chard stems.

  • Boil for 3-5 minutes or until just beginning to soften. The total time depends on their size.

  • Next, add the leafy chopped portion of the chard and boil for approximately 30 seconds. Gently drain all the vegetables in a colander.

Sauteeing:

  • Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan.

  • Add the coarsely chopped garlic and red pepper flakes (if using).

  • Turn on the heat to medium-high.Once the garlic begins to sizzle and starts turning golden, reduce the heat to medium. Add the mixture of boiled chard and potatoes.

  • Season with salt and pepper according to taste.

  • Sauté until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir often.

  • Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil.

  • Serve immediately.

Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

  • Season your water properly with salt.
  • Add the oil, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pan first, and then turn on the heat. This allows the garlic to slowly cook, preventing it from burning.
  • Start cooking your potatoes in a pot of boiling water as we want to exterior to be soft.
  • Add the lemon juice once the pan is off the heat to preserve its bright flavor.

How can I make this a complete meal? The addition of a can of chickpeas transforms this simple side dish into a high fiber, healthy and complete meal.

What foods go well with this Swiss chard recipe? These sauteed greens with potatoes make a great side dish to almost any main meal. One of my favorite ways to serve it is alongside this baked cod recipe. It’s also great with this recipe for pan seared lamb.

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1079mg | Potassium: 1823mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 13871IU | Vitamin C: 115mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 6mg

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Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

Can you eat too much Swiss chard? ›

Swiss chard contains certain nutrients and compounds that some people may need to limit, including vitamin K and dietary oxalates. It may also trigger an allergic reaction for some people.

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.

Should 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 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.

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.

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.

Does Swiss chard raise blood pressure? ›

Swiss chard is rich in potassium and magnesium, which helps control blood pressure. And it also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two heart-healthy antioxidants. Sauté it with a bit of olive oil until wilted and season with herbs and pepper for a delicious dish.

Does chard raise blood pressure? ›

Along with other leafy greens and descendants of the beet family, Swiss chard contains high levels of nitrates, which been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, and enhance athletic performance.

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.

Is Swiss chard bad for gout? ›

Opting for vegetables rich in fiber and low in purines is key for managing gout. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and swiss chard are excellent choices, offering essential nutrients without significantly impacting uric acid levels.

Is chard better than spinach? ›

Spinach have significantly more Vitamins A than chard. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. Spinach is a great source of Thiamin, Niacin, Zinc, Phosphorus.

What does Swiss chard do for your body? ›

Swiss chard, like many other leafy greens, is loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and phytochemicals. It is regarded as a powerhouse of flavonoid antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, and iron. One cup of Swiss chard contains 60 percent of your daily vitamin A requirements, making it excellent for vision, skin, and eye health.

Is Swiss chard healthier than spinach? ›

While both are high in vitamins A and K, magnesium, and iron, spinach is much higher in calcium — providing 24 percent of your recommended daily intake compared to chard's 10 percent — and in vitamins B, particularly folate (via SF Gate). In fact, spinach has 10 times the amount of folate than chard.

Is Swiss chard bitter when cooked? ›

Not quite as intense as kale, chard can be on the bitter side when eaten raw, but it becomes a pleasant, tender green when cooked. Because of its mild, slightly bitter taste, it pairs well with an acid (like lemon) and a bit of salt (like pecorino or parmesan) to balance it out.

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