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.)

FRENCH LENTILS WITH CHARD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the lentils, 2 quarts water and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 40 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Stir the chard into the simmering lentils. Cook another 10 minutes or so, until the lentils and greens are tender. The chard should be tender but still bright. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve, passing the cheese at the table for sprinkling. Alternatively, transfer to an oiled baking dish, top with rounds of goat cheese, crumbled feta or grated Parmesan, and heat through in a medium oven.

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.

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.

SAUTEED SWISS CHARD WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic and onion, and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the chard stems and the white wine. Simmer until the stems begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chard leaves, and cook until wilted. Finally, stir in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese; season to taste with salt if needed.