Best French Swiss Chard Recipes

SWISS CHARD AU GRATIN FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Remove the stems from the chard but keep the leaves whole. Add the chard to the boiling water (the pot will be packed at first) and cook for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and run under cool water. Drain again, then wrap the chard in a kitchen towel and squeeze to remove the excess water. Chop the chard.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking, for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Simmer until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Stir in 1/3 cup Roasted Garlic Paste.
• Spread half the chard in the bottom of a medium casserole dish. Top with half the garlic sauce and half the cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the cheese. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven and turn on the broiler.
• Halve the bread lengthwise, then cut in half crosswise to make four 12-inch-long pieces. Broil the bread, cut-side up, until charred, about 1 minute. Slather with the remaining Roasted Garlic Paste and top each piece with one-quarter of the chard au gratin. Cut each pizza in half and serve.
• The unbaked chard au gratin can covered be and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal. Bring to room temperature, then bake as directed.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Arrange the garlic in a cluster on a large piece of foil and drizzle with 1/4 cup EVOO. Wrap up the garlic in the foil to make a tightly sealed pouch. Roast until very tender, about 45 minutes. Let cool, then squeeze the garlic from the skins into a food processor. Add the remaining 3/4 cup EVOO and the honey and season with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth, then transfer to a small container. (Alternatively, you can mash the garlic paste with a fork instead of using a food processor.)

SAVORY FRENCH TOAST WITH SWISS CHARD AND EGGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200˚ F. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, tomatoes and chard stems and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chard leaves and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to an ovenproof dish and keep warm in the oven. Wipe out the skillet and return to the stovetop.
• Whisk 3 eggs, the milk, sage, 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a baking dish. Lay the bread in the dish, flipping the slices once or twice to fully soak. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Carefully lift the bread from the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off. Cook in the skillet until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet, top each with a slice of cheese and melt in the oven.
• Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Crack in the remaining 4 eggs and cook until the whites are set, about 5 minutes. Divide the French toast among plates. Top each with the vegetables and a fried egg; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the hot honey.

FRENCH LENTIL AND SWISS CHARD RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 6 cups water, bay leaf, and thyme sprigs, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add lentils, reduce heat to low, and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain lentils, discard bay leaf and thyme sprigs, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, wash Swiss chard, and remove the leaves from the stalks. Slice the leaves into very thin 2-inch strips, and cut the smaller stems into 1/4-inch dice. Discard the larger stems. Cook Swiss chard in a wok or a large skillet over high heat, tossing constantly, until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Set aside in a colander.
• Cut leeks in half lengthwise, and slice into very thin semicircles. Place in a large bowl of cold water, and let sit for about 5 to 10 minutes to rid them of dirt and sand. Lift out of the water, and drain in a colander. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring stock to a boil, reduce heat to low, and keep at a bare simmer.
• Heat olive oil in a heavy 4-quart saucepan over medium heat; add leeks, onions, and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until soft but not browned, about 6 minutes. Add rice and thyme leaves, and continue stirring until the edges of the rice are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring constantly, until nearly all the wine is absorbed, about 30 seconds.
• Raise the heat to medium high, add salt and pepper and about 1/2 cup of the simmering stock, and cook, stirring constantly, until nearly all the stock is absorbed. Continue adding stock, about 1/2 cup at a time. Cook, stirring constantly, allowing each addition to be nearly absorbed before adding the next, until rice is creamy but still a little firm in the center, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in lentils, Swiss chard, and Parmesan. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. Divide the risotto among six plates, and garnish with the shredded radicchio. Serve immediately.

FRENCH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Remove the chard stems and the thick central vein from each leaf. Chop the leaves very coarsely.
• Using a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium high heat, melt the butter with the oil until sizzling. Add the chard and the rosemary, stirring well to coat the chard with the butter mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for another minute until the chard has wilted to about half its original volume.
• Add raisins and pine nuts, stirring to combine evenly, and continue cooking until any moisture has evaporated. The entire cooking process should take no more than about 3 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

SWISS CHARD SAUTEED WITH FRENCH HONEY DRESSING

Steps:

• Wash Swiss Chard thoroughly and drain.
• Trim off discolored stems and stem tips.
• Boil the chard for 15 minutes in salted water.
• Drain vegetable completely.
• Add olive oil, vinegar, and garlic to sautee pan.
• Heat pan on medium heat setting for 1 minute.
• Add chard to saute pan.
• Stir in French Honey salad dressing.
• Saute on medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
• Serve.