Green chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Similar veggies:
Rainbow chard, spinach, baby chard
Other names
Chard, Swiss chard, perpetual spinach, silver beet, beet spinach
A quick introduction
Green chard has large smooth green leaves. The stems are thick and can be green or white. Chard is a great replacement for spinach but it's not very nice to eat raw. Only very young baby chard is tender enough to enjoy in raw salads.,
Storage
Wash in cold water and store in the fridge, preferably in a closed container.
Season
May to November
Suggestions for preparation
Swiss chard can be cooked similarly to spinach. Try blanched, sauteèd, braised or in a stew and pair with bold flavours such as olives and feta cheese. The stems can take slightly longer to cook than the leaves, so you may want to add them a bit earlier to allow for the difference in cooking time.
Recipes
Try this gratin by Ottolenghi with sumac onions and potatoes
Try out new spice combinations with this recipe for chard with orange, garlic and caraway (see fifth recipe on the list).
Comforting chard & chickpeas stew
Simple Japanese blanched greens
Potato and spinach (or chard) quiche
Ottolenghi’s Bkeila (delicious spiced spinach or chard stew with potatoes and white beans)