Swiss Chard with Currants and Pine Nuts Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Swiss Chard with Currants and Pine Nuts Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 40 minutes
Rating
5(347)
Notes
Read community notes

This is a popular dish throughout the Mediterranean, particularly in Catalonia, Provence, and the Italian Riviera. It is often made with spinach, but I prefer to use Swiss chard, because the chard stands up to the cooking but still has a delicate flavor.

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves 4

  • 3tablespoons currants, raisins, or golden raisins
  • 2pounds Swiss chard, stemmed and washed in several changes of water, stems diced and set aside
  • 2tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 to 2garlic cloves (to taste), minced
  • 3tablespoons pine nuts
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

169 calories; 12 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 16 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 578 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Swiss Chard with Currants and Pine Nuts Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place the raisins or currants in a bowl and pour on hot water to cover. Soak 10 minutes and drain.

  2. Step

    2

    Fill a bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the chard. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to the bowl of ice water and let sit for a few minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much water as you can. Chop coarsely.

  3. Step

    3

    Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add the chard stems and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until tender. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring, until they begin to color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, just until the garlic begins to smell fragrant about 1 minute. Add the chopped greens and raisins or currants and toss together until they are well coated with oil and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve, or allow to cool and serve at room temperature.

Ratings

5

out of 5

347

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Uviolet

I neither soak the raisins beforehand nor pre-cook the chard. Starting the stems earlier makes sense, but just add the uncooked leaves with a bit of water still attached and the raisins will soak it right up. I also add 1-2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar before serving.

Sarah

I agree, I never soak the raisins or pre-cook the chard. This is one of our favorite ways to cook up Swiss Chard. It is so pretty with the different color stems.
One of my favorite leftovers - cold with a bit of goat cheese.

Judith

I used dried cranberries instead of currants or raisins. The cranberries' tart/sourness played off the sautéed garlic and toasted pine nuts nicely. Together they all enlivened (without overwhelming) the distinctive flavor of the chard. I served the vegetable dish over plain, lightly buttered couscous with a few slices of cold, leftover roasted turkey breast that had been marinated with a dry mustard, rosemary, garlic, sea salt and black pepper paste tucked under its skin.

Julie

Soak raisins and currents in lemon juice not water. Use extra virgin Olive oil and sea. Salt. Sautéed one anchovy in the olive oil until it begins to dissolve and can be mashed up.

Kristin

This is quite good. I first made it as per the directions and loved it. The second time, I was short on time and did this: heated oil in a salute pan, added the pine nuts and currants (no soaking), and some salt/pepper. Just as the nuts began to turn color, I added the chopped chard (larger stems removed) and sautéed for a few minutes. In the last few seconds, a splash of balsamic vinegar. Honestly, it was just as good with a lot less effort.

Amy

Lovely! I agree with many of the comments...I didn't find the need to do the precooking or soaking. I started with Step 3 in the preparation. I also finished with a splash of Balsamic Vinegar which added a nice touch. Finally I added in a tablespoon or so more of both the pine nuts and the currents. Will make again!

Audre Engleman

I added a Japanese Rice Seasoning called Seto Fumi Furikake and it gave it nice, extra flavors

PittMom3

I’ve made this for years, subbing out whatever dried fruit (diced if large) and whatever nut/seed I might have on hand. Use good olive oil, dice the stems and sauté first, toast the nuts, then add the fruit and the leaves, cut into ribbons. A touch of acid and a bit of Spanish paprika is lovely. I’ve sometimes used sliced green manzanilla olives for the acid component. Think salty and sweet, bitter and acid all in balance and you’ve got it!

Carol Noel

This dish was a popular 'tapa' in Spain where I lived as a young woman...I make it often and add whole cumin to the garlic/oil and chickpeas at the end.... delish!!!!

Joyce

I've made this before, and really enjoy a little splash of vinegar on it. Delicious

nnr

Has anyone tried adding a dash of pomegranate molasses to this?

Claire

Haven't tried this recipe, but whenever I saute chard I cut off and chop the stems, sauteing them for a bit before starting on the rest of whatever recipe I'm doing. Don't waste the crunchy stems! Will be trying this recipe next time I find some chard that looks edible - hard to find at the store because I'm used to growing my own...

Cheryl

I can’t eat pine nuts, but I’ve discovered that pistachios make a very satisfying substitute.

Ellen

This is a very tasty recipe. I am a mediocre cook, yet even I managed to make it so it was excellent. I added a sprinkle of red pepper and red wine vinegar at the end. I also only used 1 Tablespoon of oil.

Gryphonology

For me, this would have been better with spinach rather than Swiss Chard. The Chard had a strong aftertaste after being cooked down. Personally, not to my liking.

Mark

A great and classic side dish. I never blanch the chard and it's always fine. An anchovy is a nice add, as are red pepper flakes.

LKG

I cooked this without making any changes to the ingredients. The only thing I did differently, I didn’t blanch the chard leaves. I think that is an unnecessary. Omitting this step makes the recipe very easy. It’s a tasty side dish.

Jane

I’ve been making this recipe for over a decade, I think. Have used beet greens and stems in place of chard at times, but otherwise follow it to a T. Highly recommend.

Mary

I made this with beet greens that I didn't know what to do with - it was delicious!

Jeanne

Made exactly as written--easy, fresh, and so delicious.

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Swiss Chard with Currants and Pine Nuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat Swiss chard? ›

Chard can be steamed or sauteed, and it's great in soups, stews, casseroles, frittatas and quiches. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads. Chard always has green leaves, but the stalks can be a variety of colors.

How do you cook chard so it is not bitter? ›

Use older chard, which tends to be markedly less bitter than the young chard you're using; Avoid bringing out the bitterness, by cooking at lower heat; Mute any remaining bitterness with salt, which is pretty common for leafy greens.

Can you eat too much Swiss chard? ›

Four potential side effects of Swiss chard include: Kidney stone: Swiss chard contains oxalates that may increase urinary oxalate excretion and predispose some individuals to calcium oxalate stones.

Is it better to eat chard raw or cooked? ›

You can eat these greens both raw or cooked. However, cooking chards improves not only the nutrient availability, but also the taste. Swiss chard is susceptible to foodborne pathogens, like other leafy greens, so be careful about washing this veggie thoroughly before preparing it.

Should you eat the stems of Swiss chard? ›

Chard stems are edible, too, so don't toss them when you're cooking the leaves! If I'm making sautéed Swiss chard, I simply add the stems to the pan a few minutes before I add the leaves so that they have a chance to soften.

Is Swiss chard anti inflammatory? ›

chard is also has an abundance of antioxidants as well as phytonutrient antioxidants. Why are these phytonutrient antioxidants so special? These antioxidants have been shown to have great anti-inflammatory properties. These phytonutrients can be found in the plant's leaves, and colorful stems.

Why does my Swiss chard taste bitter? ›

Chard will usually bolt in any extreme temperature conditions like freezing and in extremely dry hot weather.” Doyle noted that the plant might continue to produce the typical chard leaves, and that the smoother leaves are still flavorful but more bitter than others.

Do you cook the stems on Swiss chard? ›

The stems can be tough. You can either remove them and discard, or boil and toss with butter: if some of the stems are tender, just sauté them first before adding the leaves, to give them more cooking time.

Why is chard so bitter? ›

Chard has a bitter taste when raw because of an acid known as oxalic acid. When cooked, chard's bitter taste and vibrant color tend to diminish. Chard can reach up to 28 inches in height and will produce stems that are white, yellow, orange, or crimson in color.

What are the cons of Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stones: Swiss chard contains antinutritive oxalates, which may increase urinary oxalate excretion and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones. Blood clotting: If you are on blood thinners, you may want to avoid Swiss chard due to its high vitamin K content, which plays a role in blood clotting.

Does Swiss chard raise blood pressure? ›

Along with other leafy greens and descendants of the beet family, Swiss chard contains high levels of nitrates, which been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, and enhance athletic performance.

What is the healthiest vegetable in the world? ›

The CDC assigns nutrition density scores to produce based on their concentration of essential vitamins and minerals. Usual suspects like spinach, chard, and beet greens all have scores ranging in the 80s. But the only vegetable to earn a perfect score of 100 is watercress.

Is chard a laxative? ›

Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, and spinach contain magnesium, a mineral that helps soften stools, making them easier to pass.

Is there a difference between chard and Swiss chard? ›

All chard is Swiss chard; it's just stalk colors and names that vary! The stalks and leaf veins of Swiss chard vary in color from yellow to pink and deep red to white. Chard with red stalks is called Rhubarb, Red, or Ruby Chard. Chard with multicolored stalks grouped together is known as Rainbow Chard.

What is the difference between Swiss chard and green chard? ›

Chard or swiss chard has many names. In Australia it is known as silverbeet. Other names for chard include green chard, spinach beet, leaf beet, sea kale, swiss beet, sea kale beet, and Indian spinach. Despite the many names it goes by, all of these are the same vegetable.

Is Swiss chard better than spinach? ›

Spinach have significantly more Vitamins A than chard. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. Spinach is a great source of Thiamin, Niacin, Zinc, Phosphorus.

Is Swiss chard bitter when cooked? ›

Not quite as intense as kale, chard can be on the bitter side when eaten raw, but it becomes a pleasant, tender green when cooked. Because of its mild, slightly bitter taste, it pairs well with an acid (like lemon) and a bit of salt (like pecorino or parmesan) to balance it out.

What does cooked Swiss chard taste like? ›

What does chard taste like? Similar to spinach, most varieties of chard are earthy and pleasantly bitter when eaten raw. While it is not as bitter as kale, the bitterness in chard also diminishes as the leaves are cooked, giving them a milder and sweeter flavor and tender texture.

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