Best Braised Chard Recipes

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS, MUSTARD GREENS, AND RED SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• In a large pot heat oil and bacon over high heat until bacon is well browned. Stir in garlic and cook 45 seconds. Deglaze with chicken stock and vinegar. Add sugar and greens and partially cover. Lower heat to medium and cook for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

BRAISED SPRING ONIONS, FENNEL AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Toss in the smashed garlic and crushed red pepper and bring the pan to a medium heat. When the garlic becomes golden brown and very aromatic, remove it from the pan and discard it. It has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the onions, fennel and Swiss chard stems, stir to coat with the oil and season with salt, to taste. Stir in the white wine and the lemon zest and juice. Cover and cook over medium heat until the veggies have become soft and wilted but still maintain some texture, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the lid and cook until most of the liquid has reduced, another 3 to 4 minutes. Toss in the Swiss chard leaves, stir to combine and season with salt, to taste. When the leaves have wilted but still look vibrantly green, taste for seasoning. Reseason if needed (it probably will). Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.
• It's spring greens!

BRAISED CHARD

Steps:

• Rinse the Swiss chard. Leave any water clinging to it. Chop it fine.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic, saute for a minute or so, then add the Swiss chard. Cook, stirring, until the Swiss chard begins to wilt. Cover the pan and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes.
• Uncover and cook, stirring, a few minutes longer. Stir in the scallions, season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

QUICK BRAISED CHARD & LENTILS

Steps:

• Cut the chard stalks into batons and roughly shred the leaves. Heat half the olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the chard stalks, garlic, chilli and a splash of water. Cook over a low heat for 8-10 mins until softened, then add the leaves and cook until completely wilted.
• Prepare the lentils following pack instructions. Take the chard off the heat and stir through the lentils. Season, dress with more olive oil and the lemon juice, then serve.

BRAISED SWISS CHARD WITH CURRANTS AND FETA

Steps:

• Cut stems and center ribs from chard, discarding any tough parts near base, then cut stems and ribs crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Coarsely chop leaves.
• Cook garlic in oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chard stems and ribs, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes. Add currants and cook, stirring, until plump, about 1 minute. Add chard leaves and water and increase heat to moderate, then cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until leaves are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in feta.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH WINTER SQUASH AND RED CHARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Sprinkle lamb on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large pot over high heat. Add lamb; cook until brown, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Transfer to plate. Add 1 tablespoon butter to drippings in pot. Add onion, carrots, parsnips, thyme and garlic. Sauté until vegetables soften and begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Add wine; boil until reduced almost to glaze, about 4 minutes. Return lamb to pot, arranging in single layer. Add stock, orange, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; bring to boil. Place pot in oven. Braise lamb uncovered until tender, turning and basting often, about 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rub cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange squash, skin side down, on baking sheet. Roast on sheet alongside lamb until tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Scrape squash from skins into bowl; add nutmeg and 2 tablespoons butter. Mash with fork until almost smooth; season with salt and pepper. Transfer lamb to plate. Strain braising liquid into bowl; spoon off fat, if desired. Return liquid to pot. Add fresh fennel, orange peel and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds. Simmer until fennel is tender and sauce is thick enough to coat spoon, about 15 minutes. Return lamb to sauce.
• Rewarm lamb shanks, covered, over medium-low heat, about 15 minutes. Rewarm squash in saucepan over low heat, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
• Chard and final preparation:
• While lamb and squash heat, cut out center stem from chard leaves; discard stems. Coarsely tear leaves. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add chard and toss until chard wilts, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide squash and chard among 4 plates. Arrange lamb atop vegetables; spoon sauce with fennel over.

BRAISED SWISS CHARD WITH RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Tear Swiss Chard leaves into medium pieces.
• In large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Stir red onion in and saute for about 5 minutes or until the red onion slices are soft.
• Turn heat up to medium-high heat; add raisins and pine nuts, stir to toast the nuts.
• Add swiss chard, give it a couple of stirs to incorporate it with the other ingredients. If you are using the spinach, add it at this point instead of the Swiss Chard.
• Add water and cover the pan so the swiss chard will wilt. Usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes for this to happen. Even if you are using the spinach that you have cooked, cooled and strained of extra water - DON'T SKIP THIS STEP WITH YOUR PRE-COOKED, STRAINED SPINACH - if you skip this with your spinach, the texture will be "gummy." Trust me - I tried it.
• Put individual servings on plates, use salt and pepper to your taste and then, (my favorite part) - sprinkle with balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Whisk flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cardamom, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in pie dish to blend. Working with 1 lamb shank at a time, coat shanks in seasoned flour. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 lamb shanks. Sauté until brown, turning occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer lamb to large roasting pan. Repeat with remaining 3 lamb shanks.
• Add half of green onions to same skillet. Reduce heat to low; stir 2 minutes. Add garlic; stir 30 seconds. Add tomatoes with juice, broth, raisins, tomato paste, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon cardamom, saffron, and cloves. Increase heat and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Pour broth mixture over lamb.
• Cover roasting pan with foil; place in oven. Braise lamb until tender, turning every 30 minutes, about 2 1/2 hours. Transfer lamb to large rimmed baking sheet. Set pan aside.
• Meanwhile, cut center rib (including stem portion) from each chard leaf. Cut chard ribs crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide pieces. Stack several leaf halves at a time and cut crosswise into 1-inch-wide strips.
• Tilt roasting pan and spoon off all fat from top of sauce that pools at lower end. Set roasting pan over 2 burners. Add chard ribs and remaining green onions and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Return lamb to roasting pan. Cover and return to oven. Braise until chard ribs are tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover; mix chard leaves into pan juices. Return pan to oven and roast uncovered until chard softens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer lamb to rimmed platter. Season chard mixture in pan to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon chard mixture over lamb. Sprinkle with parsley; serve with bulgur.

BRAISED SWISS CHARD WITH BACON AND HOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove ribs and stems from Swiss chard leaves. Cut in half lengthwise, then slice crosswise into 2" pieces; set aside. Tear leaves into large pieces; set aside.
• Combine vinegar, hot sauce, and brown sugar in a small bowl, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Set sauce aside.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium. Cook bacon, stirring often, until lightly browned and crisp, 7-10 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and reserved chard stems; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until stems are crisp-tender, 7-10 minutes. Add reserved chard leaves a handful at a time, letting them wilt slightly before adding more. Add sauce and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper if needed.

SWISS CHARD WITH BRAISED LEEKS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• 1. Wash swiss chard well and slice into 1 inch pieces, reserving ribs for another use 2. Leeks - Trim the root ends and dark green stalks, then slice thinly 3. Heat butter over med. heat in saucepan 4. Add leeks, saute 2-3 min. 5. Add garlic, salt, pepper and thyme 6. Stir and cook for 30 sec. 7. Add wine or broth 8. Stir once, then cover the pan and reduce heat to low. Cook for about 10 minutes, until everything is very soft. Check occasionally to ensure that nothing is burning, and add a splash more wine if necessary. Add prepared chard to the pan and cook, covered, at least 5 minutes. Stir everything to combine and continue cooking, covered, until chard is very soft. Uncover and allow to cook only long enough to evaporate any excess cooking liquid. Serve

ONE-POT BRAISED CHARD WITH GNOCCHI, PEAS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• In a 5- or 6-quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add leeks and chard stems, and cook until tender and lightly brown, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, thyme and a large pinch of salt and black pepper, and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Add wine, scraping up the brown bits at bottom of pot, and let the wine reduce by half, 2 to 4 minutes. Pour in stock and 3/4 teaspoon salt, and bring to a simmer.
• Stir in gnocchi and chard leaves. Cook, partly covered, for 15 minutes, until the chard is soft. Add peas and tarragon, and continue to cook, partly covered, until gnocchi are cooked through, another 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• To serve, top with parsley, a generous shower of Parmesan and a big squeeze of lemon. If you like, you can also add a dollop of ricotta and some red-pepper flakes.

BRAISED BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH TOMATOES AND SWISS CHARD - ATK

Steps:

• Sprinkle both sides of chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering; add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook without moving them until skin is crisped and well browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken and brown on second side, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer thighs to large plate.
• Pour off all but 1 teaspoon fat from pot. Add the onion and tomato paste and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally and scraping bottom of pot with wooden spoon, until tomato paste begins to darken, about 3-4 minutes (if bottom of pot becomes very dark and sticky, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons water). Add garlic and anchovy and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, chicken broth, and wine, scraping up browned bits with wooden spoon. Add red pepper flakes, thyme, and bay. Remove and discard skin from chicken thighs, then submerge chicken bone-side up in liquid, adding any chicken juices accumulated on plate. Increase heat to high, bring to simmer, cover, then place pot in oven. Cook until chicken offers no resistance when poked with tip of paring knife but meat still clings to bone, 40 to 55 minutes.
• While chicken cooks, trim stems from Swiss chard. Roughly chop the leaves.
• Also while chicken cooks, simmer balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until thick, syrupy, and reduced to 1/3 cup, 3 to 5 minutes (begin measuring volume when vinegar begins to cling to sides of saucepan). Set aside.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil; discard bay leaf. Bring liquid in Dutch oven to simmer over medium-high heat. Add chard greens and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir about 1/3 cup sauce into balsamic reduction to loosen, then stir the mixture into the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to sauce, cook until heated through, about 2 minutes, turning chicken once or twice. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chard to serving dish or individual bowls; place chicken thighs on chard, then spoon sauce over. Serve immediately.

RACK OF LAMB WITH CRANBERRY-TANGERINE SAUCE, BRAISED RED CHARD, CREAMY POLENTA WITH SAGE AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan to high and oven to 400 degrees F.
• Drizzle racks with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill lamb over high heat for 2 or 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a baking sheet or broiler pan and place in hot oven. Cook 12 to 15 minutes, to 130 degrees F on meat thermometer for rare, 155 for well. Let meat rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving for juices to redistribute.
• For the chard, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Then add the greens in bunches until they wilt down enough to fit in the pan. Add the vegetable stock and raisins. Season greens with salt, pepper and freshly grated nutmeg. Reduce heat to medium low and cook 10 to 15 minutes until greens are tender and no longer bitter.
• Place cranberry juice concentrate and the tangerine zest and juice in a small saucepan and simmer together over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain and return to pan. Meanwhile, combine the cranberries and chicken stock in a bowl. Cover and microwave on high for 1 minute. Let stand 10 minutes to reconstitute the cranberries.
• For the polenta, heat a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add oil and pancetta. Brown pancetta a minute or 2 and remove from pan to a paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and bring 3 cups chicken stock to a boil. Add the polenta and stir constantly until mixture masses, 2 or 3 minutes. Remove polenta from heat and stir in sage, butter, pancetta bits, and season with salt and pepper. Reserve the chives for garnish.
• Heat cranberries and stock to a bubble and remove from stove.
• To serve, allow 1/2 rack of lamb per person. Separate chops into 1 or 2 rib sections and glaze with cranberry-tangerine sauce. Serve with sage and pancetta polenta garnished with chives and braised red chard.

BRAISED CHARD WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Warm the chicken broth in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the dried cranberries; set aside to plump.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the red onion and chard stems and cook, stirring, until the stems are just tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the chicken broth and dried cranberries. Add the chard leaves, pressing them down to fit, if needed. Cover and simmer until the leaves just start to wilt, 1 to 2 minutes. Uncover and increase the heat to medium high. Cook until the leaves are just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt.
• Transfer the chard mixture to a serving bowl with tongs, leaving the liquid in the pot. Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil into the liquid and increase the heat to high. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid is syrupy, about 2 minutes. Pour over the chard.

BRAISED DUCK LEGS WITH POLENTA AND WILTED CHARD

Steps:

• For the duck:
• Prick duck skin all over with a paring knife or carving fork; season with salt and pepper. Place duck on a large rimmed baking sheet. Toss with thyme, garlic, bay leaves, and juniper berries, pressing aromatics onto legs to adhere. Let sit 30 minutes (or preferably do this the day before; cover and chill).
• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 225°F. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium and cook onion, carrots, and celery, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8-10 minutes. Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by half, 6-8 minutes. Add 1 cup water and slip duck legs (including aromatics), skin side down, into liquid. Cover and braise in oven on lower rack until duck is submerged in its fat, 1 1/2-2 hours. Turn duck skin side up and cook, covered, until tender (the bones will wiggle easily in the joint), 1 1/2-2 hours longer.
• Transfer duck to a deep baking dish; strain liquid into a large measuring glass or medium bowl. Skim fat into dish with duck; set aside braising juices. Chill duck, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days (cover and chill juices if chilling duck more than a couple of hours).
• For the polenta:
• While duck is chilling, preheat oven to 225°F. Bring milk and 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Season with salt and pepper; slowly stream in polenta, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking often, until it begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Cover and transfer to lower rack in oven. Bake until polenta is thick and grains are soft, 20-30 minutes. Whisk to smooth out.
• For the assembly:
• While the polenta is in the oven, bring reserved braising juices to a boil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and cook until thick enough to coat a spoon, 15-20 minutes. Stir in vinegar; keep sauce warm.
• Remove polenta from oven; keep warm. Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Transfer duck legs, leaving fat behind, to a large rimmed baking sheet, placing skin side up. Roast on top rack until skin is crackling crisp, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove ribs and stems from chard leaves by slicing away leaf from both sides of stalk. Slice stalk in half lengthwise; cut into 3"-long pieces. Tear leaves. Heat half of oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook garlic, tossing, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add stems to skillet and cook, tossing, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl with garlic.
• Add remaining oil to skillet; add chard leaves a handful at a time, letting them wilt slightly before adding more, and cook, tossing, until chard is just wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Toss in chard stems and garlic and transfer to a platter. Top with red pepper flakes and squeeze lemon over.
• Whisk Parmesan and butter into polenta. Serve duck with polenta, wilted chard, and sauce alongside.

BREADED CATFISH FILLETS WITH BRAISED SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Process bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread onto a rimmed baking sheet. Toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer breadcrumbs to a shallow bowl; let cool completely. (Leave oven on.)
• Rinse chard, but do not dry. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and half of the garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in chard and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover, and cook until chard has wilted, about 10 minutes. in stock. Cook, covered, until chard is very tender, about 12 minutes. Stir in vinegar, and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Add remaining garlic, the sage, parsley, zest, cayenne, and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and black pepper to breadcrumbs; stir. Put flour and egg white into separate shallow bowls. Season both sides of fish with remaining 1/8 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Working with 1 fillet at a time, dredge in flour, shaking off excess; dip into egg white then into breadcrumbs, turning to coat. Transfer to prepared dish. Bake until fish flakes easily, 15 to 20 minutes. Divide fillets and chard among 4 plates. Serve with lemon wedges.

BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH RED WINE GRAVY AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• SHORT RIBS Preheat oven to 350°F. Place ribs on rimmed baking sheet; sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over; toss to coat. Heat 1/4 cup oil in heavy large wide pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook ribs until browned all over, about 10 minutes per batch. Return to sheet. Wipe out pot. Add remaining 1/4 cup oil to pot. Add onions and next 4 ingredients; cook until tender and slightly browned, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add sun-dried tomatoes and next 3 ingredients; stir to coat. Return ribs to pot, placing on sides to fit in single layer. Add wine. Simmer until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add broth; cover and bring to simmer. Transfer pot to oven and braise until ribs are tender, about 2 hours. Let stand, covered, at room temperature 15 minutes. Carefully transfer ribs to large bowl, keeping meat attached to bones if possible (some bones may separate from meat). Remove herb sprigs. Pass all braising liquid and vegetables through food mill into large bowl; return to pot. Spoon fat from surface. Season gravy to taste with salt and pepper and a few drops of balsamic vinegar, if desired. Rewarm gravy. Return ribs to gravy; cover and simmer to rewarm, about 5 minutes. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered, until cool, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm over medium heat until heated through, stirring gently, about 15 minutes. SWISS CHARD Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir 30 seconds. Add half of chard; toss to wilt, adding water by tablespoonfuls if dry, about 1 minute. Add remaining chard. Toss until wilted but bright green, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide ribs among plates. Divide chard among plates. Spoon gravy over ribs and serve, passing remaining gravy alongside.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH CHICKPEAS AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Whack cinnamon stick with the blunt side of a chef's knife to break into pieces. Toast cinnamon, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in a dry small skillet over medium-high heat, tossing occasionally, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool, then finely grind in spice mill. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in turmeric and cardamom.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Season chicken generously with salt and, working in batches if needed, cook, turning occasionally, until well browned all over, 10-15 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Cook onions in same pot, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 6-8 minutes. Add spice mixture, garlic, lemon zest, bay leaves, and ginger; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands, and cook, scraping up brown bits and stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are broken down and sauce is slightly thickened, 8-12 minutes. Stir in chiles, honey, and stock; season with salt. Return chicken to pot, skin side up, and bring to a simmer. Transfer to oven; bake, uncovered, 30 minutes. Add chickpeas and cook until chicken is very tender and skin is browned, 10-15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Add chard to stew and stir to wilt; season with salt. Serve chicken over stew topped with sesame seeds.
• Do Ahead
• Stew (without greens) can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat before adding greens.

GARLIC BRAISED COLLARD GREENS OR SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• 1. Coarsely chop the greens and place them in a dutch oven or large casserole (they will be tightly packed). Pour in ¾ cup of water until the water begins to simmer. Lower the heat, cover, and cook until greens are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. 2. When the greens are cooked, transfer them to a colander and press them with the back of a wooden spoon to remove any excess moisture. 3. Place the oil and garlic in the empty pot and cook over medium heat until the garlic is just golden. Do not over cook or the garlic will become bitter. Stir in the greens, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, splash in the vinegar or wine and cook, stirring until heated through and the vinegar has evaporated, 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN BRAISED CHARD

Steps:

• Slice chard stems from leaves. Coarsely chop stems and set aside; cut leaves crosswise into 1-inch-wide strips and set aside.
• Heat oil and butter in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Once butter foams, add onion, anchovies, and raisins and cook until onion is Add capers and garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant and lightly browned. Immediately add chard stems and cook until they start to brown.
• Add chard leaves, reduce heat to medium, and cook until chard wilts, about 10 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook until lemon juice cooks off, about 5 to 6 minutes. Serve immediately.