Swiss Chard

     I was at the farmers market Saturday and decided to pick up some swiss chard.  I've always admired the pretty colors of the shiny green leaves and brightly colored stems, but I've never actually tasted it...until now.  When I got home, I searched for a recipe to cook my new vegetable and this is what I found.

Swiss Chard with Raisins & Hazelnuts

3 Tbsp. raisins
1 pound swiss chard
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbsp. toasted hazelnuts, chopped
salt & pepper to taste

Place raisins in small pan with water to cover.  When water begins to boil, take pan off heat, let raisins sit for at least 5 minutes.

While raisins are soaking, cut each chard leaf away from stem & central rib.  Cut leaves into 1/4 inch crosswise strips.  Dice stems and central ribs.

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add chard & garlic, saute, stirring frequently for 6-8 minutes or until chard is tender.  Drain raisins & toss them & hazelnuts into the chard.  Add salt & pepper & serve.

     We enjoyed this recipe very much and now we know what to do with the once foreign but attractive vegetable sitting on the stands at the market.  The next time you are at the market, choose something you have never eaten before, search for a recipe and be proud of yourself for stepping outside of your cooking box.  I'll leave you with some pretty substantial nutritional facts about swiss chard.

     Chard is a vegetable with shiny green leaves and stems ranging in color from white to yellow to red.  It is a descendant of the beet and has a slightly bitter and salty taste.  Cooking it fades the bitterness and adds a bit of sweetness.  It is very popular among Mediterranean cooks with the first varieties being traced back to Sicily.  It has a very impressive list of health promoting nutrients and is sometimes considered the valedictorian of vegetables.  In just one cup, you can find over 700% RDA of vitamin K, over 100% vitamin A, and 52% vitamin C!  It's also an excellent source of vitamin E, fiber, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and iron.  The phytonutrients in chard help to prevent digestive cancers and the beta carotene supports healthy eyes.  That is quite a list of accomplishments from just one leafy plant!  If you haven't already, give it a try!