Creamy Swiss Chard
I come by my love of vegetables honestly. Anyone who knows my family- knows my mother is a master gardener and it is because of HER that I love vegetables as much as I do.
I grew up eating swiss chard from the garden and it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized it was a vegetable unfamiliar to many.
Swiss Chard is a leafy green vegetable commonly served in Mediterranean cuisine. The stems of each varietal are different colors, spanning the entire rainbow from white to purple. “Rainbow chard” is simply those varietals sold as a bunch in the grocery store.
Swiss chard is a nutritional powerhouse -- an excellent source of vitamins K, A, and C, as well as a good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, and dietary fiber.
A descendant of the beet family, Swiss chard contains high levels of nitrates, which has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, and enhance athletic performance. So, my workout enthusiasts. This one is for you!
It grows best in the spring or fall months- in other words, the cooler weather. Late February and March are months you begin to see more of it in the grocery store.
One of my favorite treats, when I eat at a nice steak house, is a good creamed spinach, but I have found this isn’t hard to make at home- and I can do it about 5,000 times healthier than any fancy restaurant in town. Today, I share my homemade version- but with Swiss Chard!
Creamy Swiss Chard
Ingredients:
1-2 bunches of organic swiss chard- chopped (I prefer the rainbow variety if your grocery carries it)
1 tbsp ghee or butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1-2 garlic cloves- minced
½ cup sour cream (if you want to try a great dairy-free alternative- grab the Forager brand sour cream… it’s cashew-based and amazing!)
2 tbsp organic heavy cream or coconut milk
¼ tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Thoroughly clean your swiss chard and chop. Melt the two oils in a large pan on medium heat. Add the swiss chard and wilt down (you may have to do in batches but it will cook down considerably like spinach will)
Add the finely minced garlic and continue to stir/cook
Add the sour cream and milk. Stir well and add nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve.
*Note- eating your leafy greens with healthy fats (olive oil, cashews, coconut milk, dairy) improves upon the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, and K- all of which are present in swiss chard!)
